LTO’s reply
IN response to my column “Unsolicited advice for LTO” where I shared my personal insights and offered some solutions to the agency, I received a letter dated Feb. 19, 2024 from the LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza 2nd. Herewith is his feedback:
“On behalf of the men and women of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), I express my deepest appreciation for the good points you raised in your column that was published on February 16.
“Constructive criticism, especially those with logical suggestions, are always deemed valuable, especially from the endusers of our services as these usually pave the way for practical approaches in solving some challenges based on the experiences of the people on the ground.
“And we in the LTO are thankful to you for finding time in thinking them over based on your extensive experience and observation as a journalist, and in using your platform to hear you out.
“Indeed, our hands are full in dealing with various challenges in the agency — from addressing the plastic supply in printing driver’s licenses to the backlog in the license plates and in ironing out the digital glitches to come up with the fastest and most comfortable online services to our clients. But we are making a great stride in dealing with them in the last six months.
“In our digitalization efforts for instan[ce], we were able to increase the usage rate of the new IT system, the Land Transportation Management System, or LTMS, from around 70 percent, when I assumed the top LTO post in July 2023 to 97 percent in just less than six months.
“The remaining 3 percent of those that cannot still be processed by the LTMS and in the areas with poor internet connection since the new IT system is internet-based.
“But with the help of our hardworking IT experts, we are confident that we would be able to address this remaining 3 percent and eventually deliver the full digital shift in the soonest possible time.
“Even before I took over the helm of the LTO, I always maintained that full digitalization will be the trend, a necessity in all government transactions, especially that we are now dealing with the younger generation of technologysavvy Filipinos. Besides, I also believe that full digitalization would result in less human intervention and eventually deny fixers the opportunity to continue with their illegal activities.
“On the license plates backlog, I would like to share with you that we started producing 1 million plates as early as November last year. As a result, we were able to address the backlog of license plates for motor vehicles, and we have enough supply for daily usage, particularly for the newly bought motor vehicles.
“What is left is the backlog for the over 10 million motorcycles, which we hope to wipe out this year — and we are on the right track in accomplishing this goal.
“The issue of plastic supply remains a tricky one on our part since it involves some matters that are beyond our control, including court intervention. We, in the LTO, share your frustrations, as well as of the millions of Filipino motorists, that the efforts made to address the plastic card supply problem were spoiled by court intervention as a result of the case filed by a losing bidder.
“In constant coordination with the Department of Transportation headed by Secretary Jaime Bautista, however, we are now expediting the procurement of plastic cards using the budget under the 2024 General Appropriations Act, and we are doing this in ways aligned to the hard lessons we learned from the ongoing legal battle on the plastic card procurement early last year.
“Significant reforms have been also initiated, but as great thinkers in the past would say, no one has a monopoly of knowledge and expertise, and it is on this aspect that we, in the LTO, believe in the power of listening as one of the best tools in management and problem-solving.
“Be rest assured then that all the suggestions you raised in your column were already taken into consideration and are now being studied in our efforts to deliver the best service to our clients and in ensuring safety of all road users.
“I am looking forward to personally meeting you for a healthy discussion on all the reforms in the LTO, and in updating you on the progress of your suggestions. “Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza 2nd Assistant Secretary and LTO Chief” Attorney Mendoza, sir, your reply has given me much hope in the LTO. With your humility and professionalism, I now see that you are indeed a big asset to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, and I do not doubt that you will succeed in overcoming the big and heavy challenges you have inherited.
I call on our lawmakers to limit the term of complaints by losing bidders as these really result in delays and backlogs suffered by the driving/riding public.
I also look forward to the agency finalizing the guidelines for hybrid and electric vehicle license plates, and the issuance of LTO vehicle stickers for persons with disabilities to further minimize the abuse of parking slots by able-bodied drivers.
Mabuhay, Assistant Secretary Mendoza, keep up the good work!