‘Stupid’ government rules

I wish to bring to the attention of the Duterte administration at least two “palpably idiotic” government rules that the public has to bear with:

1) When a private vehicle is in the shop for repairs that can take months due to lack of genuine spare parts that have to be imported, the Land Transportation Office requires the surrender of the plates for storage, to avoid the huge penalty for late renewal of registration. That would have been easy enough to comply with, except that the rules require such surrender to be done in the LTO branch where the vehicle was originally registered. Thus, if it was first registered in Baguio City, the new owner residing in Metro Manila has a serious problem. He would have no choice but to pay the penalty. But aren’t all matters relating to vehicle registration all over the country already entered in the LTO’s database, for the use of which “computer fees” are always being exacted? It seems the LTO’s “public servants” are just too lazy to do extra work, never mind the extreme inconvenience to the public.

2) The Land Registration Authority encourages landowners to have their Torrens titles electronically registered (“E-Title”) to avoid the hassle of securing another copy in case of loss or destruction. Good idea, except that the LRA rules require proof of full realty tax payments and then the tax clearance. A title which is under a “notice of lis pendens” for years, with taxes thereon unpaid as its ownership has remained unsettled with finality, is automatically disqualified. Seriously, what business is it of the LRA to be so concerned about the collection of realty taxes, which is the job of the local government units? Re-registration “electronically” does not involve transfer of ownership and merely copies the old title in the name of the same registered owner. So, where’s the beef?

To the abovementioned government agencies: HELLO, ANYBODY HOME?

ARNULFO M. EDRALIN, [email protected]