LTO 7 has certified zero backlogs of transactions, says Caindec
THE Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO 7) hit back at a group of motorcycle dealers in the region by reminding them of the earlier released certification on zero backlogs of transactions for registration.
The reminder came amid the group’s allegation on the delay of official receipts (ORs) and certificates of registration (CRs).
In a statement, LTO 7 Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec stressed the “certificate of zero backlog of transactions” issued last May 18, 2022.
“This is to respectfully inform your good office that both the New Registration Unit 7 and MAIRDOEs have zeroed backlog of transactions received until May 11, 2022. It is our honor to inform you that we have zeroed out the backlog transactions as of present date,” read the certification.
Caindec also told the motorcycle dealers’ group and their spokesperson, lawyer Gilbert Andres, to abide by the Republic Act (RA) 11235, also known as the “Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act,” as well as the 2019 LTO’s Citizen’s Charter.
“I agree the Citizen’s Charter should be followed. So his clients should follow the process and not submit records on batching. Also, they should abide by RA 11235,” said Caindec.
Under Section 4 of RA 11235, “the owner of a motorcycle shall register his or her motorcycle with the LTO within five days from such acquisition of ownership. Failure of the owner to register within five days from the acquisition of ownership, or to immediately report its sale or disposition, shall subject the owner to a penalty of imprisonment or arresto mayor to prison correccional, as defined under the Revised Penal Code, or fine of not less than P20,000 but not more than P50,000 or both.”
Earlier Tuesday, May 24, the motorcycle dealers — Du Ek Sam, DES Marketing, DES Strong, DESMark and Premio — denied the accusations made by Caindec that they are behind the delays in the release of motorcycle ORs and CRs to their customers.
“Instead, Caindec should pin the blame squarely on himself for his repeated failure to release motorcycle ORs/CRs within the ‘3 hours, 15 minutes’ time frame as mandated by the amended 2019 LTO Citizen’s Charter,” said Andres in a statement sent to SunStar Cebu on Tuesday, May 24.
The amended 2019 LTO Citizen’s Charter dictates that the total processing time from when the LTO client submits requirements until he receives his OR, CR, sticker, plates and RFID sticker is merely “three hours, 15 minutes.”
Andres said the LTO 7 under Caindec has failed to do this in numerous instances, citing that the LTO regional director was even ordered to be preventively suspended by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) for violating provisions of RA 11032 or the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.”
Arta previously recommended that the case against Caindec be referred to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission for immediate conduct of investigation for possible violation of RA 3019 or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” and any other laws, rules, and regulations, as may be applicable.
Andres said the release of ORs and CRS has been delayed due to the LTO 7’s failure to establish additional new registration units across the region.
He said there is only one new registration unit for the entire Central Visayas, which deals in the processing of documents from the thousands of sold cars and motorcycles from Cebu and its neighboring islands of Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Bohol.
He added that these documents have to be sent to Cebu for registration.
But Caindec, in a statement on Tuesday, said that no regional director “has the power to create a new office, not even an NRU (New Registered Unit). I’m surprised that their lawyer is feigning ignorance of basic laws and administrative rules.”
He said a meeting with MAIRDOEs was attended by the majority of dealers sometime in March.
“Major dealers were present including motorcycle dealers. The MOU was discussed, but since they didn’t send a representative, then perhaps that explains why they aren’t aware,” he said.