A group identified as Coalition 169 has raised new concerns over the Land Transportation Office’s continued rollout of the Stradcom-managed LTO IT System in several regions, citing questions over regulatory approvals and possible data privacy risks.
In a statement issued on May 28, the group said the system is being deployed in Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, and Caraga despite the absence of publicly disclosed approval from the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev), formerly the National Economic and Development Authority.
Coalition 169 said such approval is a key safeguard for projects implemented under a Build, Own, Operate (BOO) arrangement to ensure the public is not charged excessive service fees.
The group also questioned the reported use of non-government QR code domains in official LTO transactions handled through Stradcom, warning that public information could face cybersecurity and data privacy risks if processed outside government-controlled digital infrastructure.
The concerns surfaced as the LTO issued an advisory acknowledging ongoing technical issues affecting its Public Portal and related services, particularly those linked to the Security Code or CAPTCHA functionality.
“Please be advised that we are continuously troubleshooting ongoing issues affecting the Public Portal and other related services, particularly those impacted by the Security Code (CAPTCHA) functionality,” the LTO said in an advisory.
The agency said its technical team is working to identify the root cause and implement fixes to restore normal operations “at the soonest possible time.”
“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused and appreciate your continued patience and understanding,” the LTO added.
The concerns also come as Coalition 169’s complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against current and former transport officials remains pending. The case involves alleged irregularities linked to the LTO’s continued use of Stradcom’s IT system.
The group called on the LTO, the Department of Transportation, and DepDev to publicly disclose whether clearance was secured for Stradcom’s contracts, why non-government QR-linked domains are being used, and the legal basis for the company’s continuing role in LTO IT operations.
“If the approvals were secured, disclose them. If public data is protected, prove it. If there is clearance to use government-owned hardware, show it. Filipinos deserve transparency, not silence,” the coalition said.
Coalition 169 said it would continue pursuing legal remedies and public accountability efforts until questions surrounding the LTO’s digital modernization program are addressed.
