Believe it or not, LTO no longer corrupt

[doublea]

Source: By Sandy Araneta
The Philippine Star 04/26/2005

Time once again for Ripley to open up the books.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza said yesterday that — believe it or not — the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is no longer plagued by corruption and graft.

Mendoza lauded the LTO for ridding itself of accusations of corruption and trying to build itself a new image as a model government agency in the country.

"The LTO is corrupt no more," Mendoza announced during the 93rd foundation anniversary and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2000 Certification awarding ceremony yesterday afternoon at the LTO office in Quezon City.

Mendoza explained that he had read a news report in the past that listed the LTO as the fifth most corrupt government agency in the Philippines.

However, he said, the LTO was recently taken off the list.

"The dawning of a new quality culture through the ISO standards brought a dramatic change to the LTO, as evidenced by the fact that this organization has been dropped from the published list of the five most corrupt agencies of the government," Mendoza said in his speech at the LTO’s anniversary. President Arroyo was also the guest of honor at the awards ceremonies later in the afternoon.

"It is good to know that we have transformed from a corrupt agency to a model agency," said LTO chief Assistant Secretary Anneli Lontoc, in an interview with the media following the ceremony.

The LTO has long had a reputation of attracting "fixers" who promise to process drivers’ applications for licenses, registrations and other official documents "under the table." Small-time bribes often trade hands to facilitate service, it is said.

In his short six-page speech late yesterday afternoon, Mendoza challenged the officials and personnel of LTO "to make LTO a model agency for all frontline government agencies."

"You have accepted this challenge and vowed to cohesively work towards the attainment of this goal," Mendoza said.

He added, however, that challenges still remain at the LTO. "There is room for more and continuous improvement — what the Japanese call kaizen," said Mendoza.

Mendoza also praised the agency for receiving the ISO 9001:2000 Certification to the Driver’s Licensing Process by Certification International Philippines, Inc., one of the national standardization bodies representing some 135 countries based in Switzerland, the International Organization for Standardization or ISO.

The transportation secretary said the ISO theme, "Good governance through service excellence," was an eloquent manifestation of the LTO’s resolve to be a staunch partner in the Arroyo administration’s anti-corruption drive.

The adoption of the ISO 9001:2000, or Quality Management System standard, has also helped increase efficiency and customer satisfaction for millions of drivers’ license applicants.

"Now these (LTO) applicants no longer crowd the counters but they benefit from an orderly queuing system in place and a faster turnaround processing time for drivers’ licenses and clearances," said Mendoza.

He also reminded LTO officials and personnel to try to assess all the activities they do in the areas of registration of motor vehicles, licensing of drivers and conductors, in traffic law enforcement as well as in the adjudication of traffic cases.

Mendoza said that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is behind the LTO in its quest for excellence.

Meanwhile, in another interview with reporters, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairperson Elena Bautista said that expect to come out with a resolution by May 4 on the jeepney sector’s petition for a P2.50 increase in the minimum fare, which would raise the fare to P8.

"We are working overtime for it. We have already received all petition papers," said Bautista.

[ssaloon]

to see is to believe.

[Altis6453]

I highly doubt it. Just look at the number of illiterate and ill-mannered public utility drivers we have. And their numbers are growing like a disease. Looks like Larry Mendoza was trying to toot his own horn. Stupid and self-serving statement.

[odell]

lets see.. nakita ko nga sa news.. world class na DAW

[chris_d]

But in fairness ngayon nabawasan na yung mga under the table deals para sa rush processing. Wala rin fixer sa extension office na pinupuntahan namin (LTO-Pque).

[mazdamazda]

But in fairness ngayon nabawasan na yung mga under the table deals para sa rush processing. Wala rin fixer sa extension office na pinupuntahan namin (LTO-Pque).

IMO... matagal na namang medyo ok ang LTO.

dun sa LTO Meycauayan... license renewal in less than 30 minutes (pero matagal lang dumating ang card).

wala na ring mga tambay na fixers dun... car registration mga 1 hour lang...

[Field Master]

Nabawasan pero nandun pa rin. Could be WORLD CLASS CORRUPTION.

[caloyski5]

yup. LTO is getting better renewed my license last year, less than 1 hour la-ang dun sa booth na papaikot with 3 steps..

[DeltaBravo]

i doubt..marami pa din lalo na sa car registration na no appearance..

[the_wildthing]

I forgot about my story. I renewed my license last March.

Well, siguro wala nang under-the-table, or baka meron pa din sa new licenses.

Here's what I paid that didn't have any receipt:

- paid for the initial form to be filled up - 2 pesos from the xerox guy. Aren't government forms free?
- paid for the hard plastic thingy that protects the license - 40 pesos. In fairness, maganda naman yung plastic, but it's not worth 40 bucks.

This is LTO Lucena City.

[sturbo]

Na observed ko sa LTO paranaque ext. office license releasing, yung babae humihingi ng P20 bago ibigay yung license mo, sabay abot sa yo ng plastic jacket for the license. At first glance akala mo para sa license yung bente, yung pala binebentahan ka lang ng plastic jacket.

Nung turn ko na, sabi ko meron na ko niyan. Patay mali na lang siya. Kanya kanyang gimik talaga!

Saang bansa kaya yung sinasabing LTO ni mendoza?

[ILuvDetailing]

mmm... sad to say the worst LTO office could be in Tayuman, pag renew ng license halos buong araw... ganon din sa pag renew ng car registration, wala pang aircon, ang babagal pa kumilos ng mga personel dun.

[oldblue]

mmm... sad to say the worst LTO office could be in Tayuman, pag renew ng license halos buong araw... ganon din sa pag renew ng car registration, wala pang aircon, ang babagal pa kumilos ng mga personel dun.

pag walang aircon, medyo corrupt kumilos ang mga personnel. it's a proven
fact hehehe private or public alike.

[geebunny]

Nung ako na ang nag-aasikaso ng renewal ng aking car registrations and driver's license, including the replacement of a lost driver's license and car registration, I have not encountered any lagayan to rush the process. Nung may inuutusan pa ako, sabi nung inutusan ko that we needed some grease money to expedite.

But I'm still hearing rumors na may lagayan pa rin especially pag non-appearance ang vehicle.

[ILuvDetailing]

sturbo: :lol:

Mr. Mendoza should be more responsible than that, its kinda hard to believe that LTO is no longer corrupt overnight... nagpapabango lang siguro yan.

[silhouette]

it seemed improving...little by little. maging strict sana sila sa mga new applicants. para hindi na masundan yung mga presently st*$id drivers sa daan.

[yebo]

sa lto east avenue e wala na nga yata fixers sa driver's license processing. nun kasi nagpa-drug test misis ko for her DL sabi dun sa drug testing lab kung gusto daw ng "hindi strict sa testing" sa san juan daw pumunta. dun daw sa lto east avenue strict daw ang test, wala na daw dun "pwede kausapin". sa san juan na daw nila dinadala yung clients nila kahit malayo.

[1D4LV]

isa lang reaction ko dito.....


WHOA!


LTO Las Pinas branch, service stinks. When i was registering my car there, it took me half a day to finish everything. Tapos yung mga taong may fixer tsaka naglalagay, they are over in half an hour. yun ba ang corruption free?

[nicolodeon]

'Dun sa LTO sa Farmers Cubao, my experience was quite....nice. When I had my license renewed last year, it was fast and easy. The people were corteous and they smiled a lot. Same goes for LTO Meycauayan (Bulacan). When I had my car registered last year, nary a hassle. The people were nice. Know what? I was shocked.

[empy]

in other news, pigs were observed to fly