• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Land Transportation Office in Western Visayas is urging local government units to submit the Official Receipts (ORs) and Certificates of Registration (CRs) of their Tricycle Owners and Drivers Association (TODA) members for proper plate assignments and payment adjustments.
This as the LTO6 started the distribution of motorcycle plates in a bid to address the backlog in the region, the latest of which was in Leganes, Iloilo where 125 motorcycle plates were distributed to TODA members.
“Finally, after more than 10 years, the problem of backlog pending plates is now being resolved,” LTO6 director, Atty. Gaudioso Geduspan II, said in a statement April 2, adding that in the next few months, LTO will be distributing 11.8 million plates nationwide.
“We prioritize TODA because we know you need this for your livelihood,” Geduspan told TODA members.
He reminded tricycle drivers to ensure that they have the correct restriction code on their driver’s licenses to avoid fines and penalties, adding that unregistered vehicles can incur fines of more than P12,000.
“If you are driving a tricycle, you must have an additional restriction code A1, as this permits you to operate a tricycle. Without this, your driver’s license may be suspended for one year,” he explained.
As per the Local Government Code, the LGU has the power to regulate the operations of tricycles or pedicabs within their territorial jurisdiction, subject to the guidelines prescribed by the Department of Transportation.
Meanwhile, Geduspan said the LTO6 has been intensifying law enforcement and road safety education campaigns, with district offices empowered to ensure compliance, noting that more than 500 fatalities and over 3,000 injuries have been recorded due to road accidents in the region.
The LTO will also soon introduce a plate tracker system to enhance transparency and efficiency, as DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon has mandated all agencies to streamline services and prevent unnecessary delays, ensuring that the public receives timely assistance.
The LTO said it is also on the right track to attain its revenue collection target for 2025, with over P8.3 billion collected in the first quarter of this year.
LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II attributed the high revenue collection to strategic policy implementation, ensuring transaction efficiency, and the aggressive implementation of road safety rules and regulations.
Its revenue target for 2025 is P34 billion, and it has already collected P8,373,775,537, as of March 31.
Mendoza stressed the need for revenue collection efficiency to generate funds that will not only further improve the LTO services but will provide more funds for all its programs and projects. | CGC
