The Administrative Secretary of the Presidency, Pedro Franco Badia, said a new group will prepare a report on the status of Plan Renove, a government plan to renew public transportation by importing new vehicles. Earlier this week, President Mejia asked that Franco Badia study irregularities in the program which has been criticized in the press. The members of the new commission are PRD alderman Amadeo Lorenzo, Antonio Reynoso, director of the Technical Office of Ground Transport (OTTT), union directors Antonio Marte, Blas Peralta, Juan Hubieres, retired general Ramon Emilio Jimenez, and Milciades Amaro, president of Terrabus. El Siglo reports the irregularities to be studied are: a) The same vehicle tendered by two companies at two prices differing in value from US$300 to US$500 per unit. b) Case of a local company awarded the tender by Plan Renove for 178 vehicles of one type. When the company could not get financing for the tendered vehicles, it substituted the type of vehicle offered in the tender.c) Price of the new “pollitos” taxis now US$3,000 more than what was paid for the same vehicle during the PLD government.d) Statement from Hyundai Corporation in Korea showing an import value of US$35 million which does not correspond with the purchase order for US$40 million.
