DoTr signs settlement with LTO supplier Stradcom

THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) said it signed a one-year phase-out agreement with Stradcom Corp., the old information technology provider of the Land Transportation Off ice (LTO) after years of dispute.

In a statement, the DoTr said it agreed to settle the P8-billion debt of the government to Stradcom, which will eventually pave the way for the LTO to subscribe to a new IT service provider — covering hardware, software, and data component requirements of the agency — and to give Stradcom time to turn over of the source code and database to the government.

“Stradcom shall do its part in helping the smooth migration of data and computer operations to the next IT provider of the LTO,” the statement read.

The Sumbilla group, which claims to be the true owner of original technology provider Stradcom Corp., had earlier sought the nullification of former Transportation Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II’s September 2011 order which started the procurement of a new information communications technology system to replace the LTO’s 1998 contract with Stradcom.

The DoTr said it will soon start a bidding process for the new IT service provider which will be set within the one-year provision of organizing and transferring of data. It will take one to two years to change an IT provider as it will include data migration, the Transport department added.

“DoTr agreed to allow Stradcom to join the bidding as it is open to all qualified bidders who are capable to provide the requirements set in the Terms of Reference,” it said. —