New LTO chief orders suspension of checkpoints
Newly-installed Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Arturo Lomibao on Wednesday ordered the suspension of all checkpoints being conducted in Luzon, pending the result of the performance evaluation, to find out if said checkpoints are necessary.
Lomibao is also planning to recall all deputation issued by the LTO to several individuals and determine first if they are really helping the agency in enforcing existing road regulations.
He said he received reports that some private individuals, including public utility vehicle drivers, managed to secure deputation from the LTO.
"We will review the performances of the checkpoints and the deputized LTO personnel to find out if they are still necessary," Lomibao added
The suspension was ordered following reports about abuses made by individuals manning the checkpoints and victimizing delivery trucks carrying goods for Metro Manila.
It was learned that some unscrupulous checkpoint personnel victimize motorists, particularly vegetable and meat traders frequently passing through major thoroughfares in Luzon.
The trucks are transporting goods from the provinces to Metro Manila and it is the job of the LTO and other traffic agencies to go after unscrupulous individuals taking advantage of the temporary authority given to them.
Earlier, Lomibao set his two major priorities as new chief of the agency -- going after colorum and out-of-line public utility vehicles (PUVs) as well as registered vehicles.
“Enforcement of existing road rules is a mandate of the LTO that needs to be implemented seriously and the agency now shift to 'tactical mode' in dealing with erring vehicle owners,” Lomibao said, who is former PNP chief.
In prioritizing colorum and out-of-line operation, Lomibao said that he would ask the Philippine National Police (PNP) to help the agency go after the PUVs operating either without a franchise or outside their assigned route.
He also said that it is not only unfair to legitimate operators but also endangers the lives of the passengers who are unaware that they are riding in unregistered vehicles.
Lomibao said that the campaign against unregistered vehicles will also include the “S-plates” or vehicles owned by the government.
“It would be a big help to the revenue generation of the government if we could register this 1.6 million vehicles and I’m am serious with this,” he added.
Based on the records, of the total 1.6 million unregistered vehicles nationwide, about 24,000 are government vehicles.
Lomibao replaced Alberto Suansing as LTO chief who was appointed as chairman of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Thomas Lantion, current LTFRB head, was appointed Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) undersecretary while retired police General Reynaldo Berroya who was also a former LTO chief was appointed as executive director of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3. (PNA)
DCT/CLTC