The LTO met with the various stakeholders last Tuesday to address the problem including the lack of plastic ID drivers’ licenses.
Jason Salvador, LTO spokesman, admitted that there are certain things that need to be corrected.
“When we first implemented the ‘No Registration, No Travel Policy’ early this month, it was with our understanding that there were no backlogs nationwide because those were the reports that we were getting from the regional meetings that were conducting. So we were surprised that’s why we’re here to find out why that happened…But one thing’s for sure, we’re here to correct everything,” Salvador explained.
Central Luzon has the largest number of plate backlogs at around 5,000. But Salvador clarified that the situation in the region is “an isolated case.”
In addition, Salvador also disclosed that the region has about 18,000 cases of drivers’ license problem. However, he said the LTO is in the process of procuring ID license cards to resolve the problem.
“LTO is trying to collect data. As regards the license thing, yes there is a problem with the license supply. We admitted that we have a supply problem with regards to ID license cards but we‘re in the process of bidding them out,” he said.
“A pre-bidding conference was held this month and we’ll have the bidding process on May 20. So hopefully that will solve everything,” Salvador added as he admitted that the best thing to do is to have “a blanket solution instead of a band aid solution.”
He said the LTO is bidding it out not only to solve the problem but also “to upgrade the type of license that we’re issuing to International standards.”
This developed even as the LTO’s national office urged the motoring public to observe the “No Plate, No Travel” policy
as “it is stated in the law that seven days upon the purchase of a vehicle, the owner should register it otherwise, he/she cannot use it.”
Salvador explained that the LTO cannot just suspend the policy as what Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Oscar S. Rodriguez have been calling for.
The policy is for the protection of the motorists, he stressed. “So we, the motoring public themselves, the dealers and us in the LTO, need to work together to make sure that they register their vehicles on time,” Salvador said.
“The most important thing why we talk to stakeholders is because we want to find out where the gaps are, where we can help and improve the services to make it more efficient for the public,” Salvador reiterated.
