NEWS
LTO seeking new IT provider to improve services
Anthony Quiambao, the CEO of Stradcom last August 4 at the LTO main office
August 11, 2022 10:59 p.m.
The Land and Transportation Office (LTO) needs a new Information Technology (IT) provider to address its current problems, such as the slow processing of documents and driver’s license applications, among others.
Driver’s license applicants and some officials from the government’s land transportation agency have agreed with newly appointed LTO chief Teofilo Guadiz’s call to search for better IT providers, who can get the job done, as well as to find affordable driving schools.
“When it comes to the IT provider, I think it’s really time to find something new, something that can be very accurate and quick,” one of the many driver’s license applicants outside the LTO office said, who requested anonymity. “We agree to Mr. Guadiz’s call that we deserve better than this.”
Guadiz recently called the attention of LTO’s current IT provider, Germany-based Dermalog, for the delays and long lines in district offices, saying driver’s license renewals before usually take only two hours, instead of the current five to six days.
“There’s delay in the process, lines are getting long in district offices. So we have to address these problems and we have to revisit the IT provider,” Guadiz said, who will be having a meeting with Dermalog executives this week.
“I want to check and review the contract. I will ask them if they can deliver. If not, we would look at other IT providers,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dermalog spokesperson Atty. Nikki De Vega defended her IT company, which supports the Land Transportation Management System’s online portal of the LTO.
“The current LTMS [Land Transportation Management System] has proven to be faster by tests conducted by the LTO comparing LTMS with the previous system provided by Stradcom,” De Vega said of Dermalog, which has been LTO’s IT provider since 2018.
“While under the previous system, Stradcom charged the public computer fees which resulted in billions of pesos of collections for the private company — under the new LTMS system, these are now free to the public,” she added.
She reasoned out that the cause of the problem was due to the delays of turnover of legacy database from the old IT provider Stradcom, which forced the LTO personnel to correct manually the missing information that prolonged the process of transactions.
Guadiz allegedly allowed Stradcom Chief Executive Officer Anthony Quiambao last August 4 to make his presentation inside the LTO office without inviting current IT provider Dermalog to present its case as LTO’s next possible IT provider.
He even mentioned in interviews that Stradcom is welcome to join the bidding process if the current provider will not deliver as promised.
But Guadiz denied that Stradcom — the LTO’s IT provider from 1998 to 2016 — would be returning anytime soon to replace Dermalog, whose contract runs up to 2026.
“There’s no truth about it,” Guadiz told reporter Anthony Taberna in the latter’s KaTunying program.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking officer from the LTO who refused not to be identified believes that a strict bidding process must be held to select an effective IT provider.
“It’s time to open the gate for bidding and find the deserving IT,” the officer said.
NEWS
Experience next-level fun at SM Game Park MOA
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NEWS
NU Lady Bulldogs reach UAAP for 9th consecutive time
November 22, 2023 8:30 p.m.
TOP-SEEDED National University needed just one game to dispose of fourth-ranked Ateneo de Manila University, 58-43, and advance to its ninth straight UAAP Women’s Basketball Finals on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Lady Bulldogs will seek their eighth consecutive title when they face the winner between the twice-to-beat UST Growling Tigresses and the UP Fighting Maroons in the Season 86 best-of-three championship series.
The UST-UP game is ongoing as of publishing.
This was also NU’s 12th straight win after losing to UP in the first round last October 8, 69-72.
“I thought it’s always hard to play against Kacey Dela Rosa and Jhazmin Joson kasi they’re considered nga the 1-2 punch of Ateneo that’s why our main goal every time we play them is to limit them,” said Lady Bulldogs head coach Aris Dimaunahan.
And that goal of limiting the “Kobe and Shaq” of Ateneo in their second straight Final Four duel? NU successfully achieved.
Dela Rosa was limited to just 10 points, including just two in the second half, but still grabbed 11 rebounds and two blocks. In her final game for the Blue Eagles, Jhaz Joson was held to just seven points on a woeful 2-of-12 shooting while also committing eight turnovers.
NU made some separation from a slim 31-27 lead at the break with a strong third quarter that saw Ann Pingol score eight points after being held scoreless in the first half, helping build a 48-37 advantage heading into the fourth.
The Lady Bulldogs continued their onslaught to open the payoff period with Marylene Solis, Maymay Canuto, and Pingol contributing for a 55-39 cushion with 6:15 to go.
After Junize Calago’s layup at the 7:09 mark, the Lady Bulldogs tightened up, with the Blue Eagles’ next basket coming in at the 2:41 mark on a Kacey Dela Rosa deuce, 41-58.
“Thank you sa mga teammates ko na in-encourage nila ako para makabawi ako nung second half kasi nung first half wala talaga ako,” said Pingol, who scored all her 10 points in the pivotal second half where the Lady Bulldogs broke away.
Camille Clarin paced NU in the first half, making all of her 12 points there to go with four assists and three rebounds.
Maymay Canuto and Jainaba Konateh both tallied eight points while grabbing nine and seven rebounds, respectively.
After the game, Joson was given her moment by NU and Ateneo at center court.
Just like last season, the Blue Eagles finished the season in fourth place.
Calago led Ateneo with 12 points, eight rebounds, four steals, and three assists but went just 5-of-19 from the field, while Sarah Makanjuola also added eight points, 16 rebounds, and two blocks.
Mille Gastador had also played her last game for the Blue Eagles.
The Final Four battle was also attended by Gilas Pilipinas players Janine Pontejos, Chack Cabinbin, Khate Castillo, Trina Guytingco, and Mikka Cacho.
The Scores:
NU 58 – Clarin 12, Pingol 10, Canuto 8, Konateh 8, Berberabe 4, Solis 4, Cayabyab 3, Betanio 3, Talas 3, Surada 2, Fabruada 1, Alterado 0, Alcantara 0.
Ateneo 43 – Calago 12, Dela Rosa 10, Makanjuola 8, Joson 7, Villacruz 6, Gastador 0, Angala 0, Solis 0, Nieves 0, Mataga 0, Fetalvero 0, Eufemiano 0.
Quarterscores: 13-11, 31-27, 48-37, 58-43.
NEWS
Pacquiao lauds Marcial, wants Asiad silver medalist to fight in Manila before Paris stint
November 12, 2023 5:50 p.m.
RETIRED eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has just personally congratulated Paris Olympic-bound fighter Eumir Felix Marcial for winning a silver medal in the recent Hangzhou 19th Asian Games in China.
Not only becoming the first Filipino boxer to qualify for the Paris Games after reaching the Asiad final — an Olympic continental qualifier, the 28-year-old boxer from Zamboanga City got boxing tips from Pacquiao during their meet up at the Forbes Park in Makati City last Friday.
“He [Marcial] was congratulated by the Senator personally after bagging a silver medal in the Asian Games and making it to the Olympics for the second time,” International matchmaker Sean Gibbons said. “The living legend Pacquiao was so excited to see him, he also gave Eumir some boxing tips.”
But there was a bigger story from there.
The 44-year-old future hall of famer, according to Gibbons, is planning to set up a pro fight here in an undetermined venue in Manila for Marcial — one of Marcial’s possible two scheduled pro bouts — before competing to the Paris Olympics from July 26 to August 11.
“The Asiad silver medalist, Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist just met with Viva Manny Pacquiao, he presented him the silver medal, and the big news was the senator wants to do a fight here in Manila, maybe in February to be sponsored by the Manny Pacquiao promotions,” Gibbons added.
Marcial, who is sporting a 4-0 win-loss record with two knockouts, expressed excitement to fight in front of his hometown, noting that the last time he fought in Manila was in 2019 Philippines 30th Southeast Asian Games when he won the gold in the middleweight class.
“It definitely excites me to hear it from Senator himself that he wanted to arrange a fight here for me under his promotions,” Marcial said. “There are many Filipinos who like to see me fight here. I’m begging for the support of my fellow Filipinos.”
Marcial will definitely be the main event bout of the fight card to be arranged by Gibbons later on, but the training of the four-time Southeast Asian Games middleweight king will definitely stay in the United States.
“My training stays in the United States for sure because that’s only the ideal place to train not only for my pro bouts but also for my Olympic campaign,” added Marcial. “I will just return to Manila two weeks before the fight if it’s officially announced.”
Experience next-level fun at SM Game Park MOA
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Ateneo gives PBA guest team fits in 102-93 loss
First in Manila! All immersive experiences lead to SM with its 3D Whale Shark billboard, Space Tunnel, Golden Gateway, dazzling light shows
