Tugade’s call to action

Lately, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has been unfairly drawing flak for exposing the looming shortage of drivers’ license cards and car plates this month.

While public frustration is expected, many observers view LTO’s revelation as a timely call to action – a time to find solutions rather than wait like sitting ducks until licenses and car plates run out. And that’s exactly what LTO chief Jay Art Tugade has been doing the past few weeks: searching for stop gap measures until such time that the supply of plastic ID cards and aluminum plates stabilizes.

Some are blaming the shortage on LTO’s alleged slow reaction time, while others point an accusing finger at the Department of Transportation (DOTR) for causing this procurement snag of about 5.2 million plastic cards worth P249-million. But clearly, the problem is not the lack of funds in the LTO but the DELAY in the procurement process by the lead agency, in this case, the Department of Transportation-Central Bids and Awards Committee (CBAC). This was after they took over the bidding and procurement of projects worth P50-million and up, in all its attached agencies including the LTO via Special Order 2023-024 dated January 25, 2023. Technically, it was only in March 21 this year, by virtue of another DOTR Special Order-088, that LTO was involved as end user for the project and became a provisional member of the DOTr-CBAC.

While the DOTr is hard-pressed to explain its role in the mess, the new LTO chief immediately sprung to action. Tugade extended the validity of license cards that expired starting April 24. License holders won’t be required to renew them until October 31, 2023. He also coordinated with traffic enforcement agencies so as not to cause unnecessary stress to motorists whose expired licenses couldn’t be immediately replaced due to no fault of their own.

To be fair, Tugade has been in office for barely five months. His biggest challenge is to professionalize and rid the agency of graft – a task akin to cleaning the Augean stables. He personally leads an anti-fixer campaign and has been weeding out corrupt elements in his agency since he assumed his post.

His greatest accomplishment, thus far, is to institute long-overdue reforms that none of his predecessors dared to touch – driving schools; medical clinics; digitalization; and registration extension of motorcycles.

He placed a cap on the fees that driving schools can charge. He also scrapped the medical examination requirement for drivers’ licenses with five-year or 10-year validity. But one of his most popular moves is the extension of the registration validity of new motorcycles – even those below 200cc – to three years. This will benefit thousands of new motorcycle owners who use these two-wheeled vehicles for commuting to and from work.

Policy-wise, it was under Tugade’s watch when the Implementing Rules and Regulations governing vintage vehicles were released. In coordination with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and mayors in the National Capital Region, the LTO will start implementing a single ticketing system on May 2, 2023. Car dealers are also now being put to task, under pain of penalties, should they fail to register the sale of motorcycles and motor vehicles on time.

Traffic violation receipts issued by LTO are now digitalized, with enforcers using mobile handheld devices that help prevent errors in data entry of violators. Aside from waiving the change venue fee, private motor vehicle registrations can also be done online.

For ease of transactions and to bring government services closer to the people, the LTO has opened eight (8) offices since November 2022. It also launched a digital complaint and feedback system called “Isumbong mo kay Chief.” Given these reforms, LTO’s first quarter revenue for 2023 is P1.2-billion or 18% higher than 2022.

Despite his accomplishments, Tugade continues to be on the receiving end of vicious media attacks. We must remember that he was not a favored appointee of DOTr Sec. Jaime Bautista in the LTO. Did Tugade step on some big toes at the agency especially those with multi-billion supply contracts? Or is he a stumbling block to those who want to make a quick buck from the license and car plate crisis?

And while there are continuing exchanges between DOTR and LTO, the public will continue to suffer from delays. The only winners are the corrupt suppliers and syndicates operating in the shadows of LTO.

It’s easy to gloss over someone’s accomplishments and blame him for the shortcomings of his predecessors. One thing’s clear: with no financial interest in the activities of LTO, Tugade is probably seen as the biggest threat to the selfish agenda of his detractors.

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