RDC enjoins LGUS to implement

LTO inter-connectivity program

ANDA, Bohol, Dec 5 (PIA)—In a move that could make more drivers behave in the roads, the Infrastructure Development Committee of the Regional Development Council for Central Visayas is now set to enjoin local government units to adopt the Land Transportation Office and the LGU Interconnectivity Program.

The RDC, led by Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, also thinks a program like this which establishes an information-technology system for the apprehension of traffic violations by Local Government Units (LGU) which is interconnected with the system and LTO database, would also increase drivers’ respect to deputized traffic enforcers in the LGUs.

And still the LGUS can keep the collected traffic violation penalties, thus not affecting their local revenue raising powers, strengthening local government finance position, practice good governance and improve bureaucratic and regulatory efficiency through technology-enabled governance and advance seamless and inclusive digital connectivity, thus advancing digitalization in the region.

While the LTO is mandated to register motor vehicles, issue driver’s and conductor’s licenses and permits, enforce transportation Laws rules and regulations as well as adjudicate apprehension cases, the passing of Republic Act 10930 provides that all drivers’ licenses are now valid for five years.

Moreover, the same law says any professional or non-professional driver who has not committed any traffic violation during its 5-year license validity, is entitled to a renewal of the same license for ten years.

Over this, as the law says for the LTO to be ascertained that it only issues licenses to deserving applicants with sufficient driving proficiency and knowledge on road safety and proper road courtesy, it also directs the LTO to maintain a point system and keep a point registry where every traffic violation of the driver keeping that license is recorded, stored, and accessed for convenient monitoring.

With this in the LTO central storage of all traffic violations as basis for earning the 10-year license privilege, Local Government Units also exercise the power and authority to implement and enforce transportation and traffic laws and regulations, most of these violation apprehensions are manually written in traffic violation citation tickets and receipts, without submitting these traffic apprehension reports to the LTO within 10 working days from apprehension, as opposed to what the law provides.

To improve on the implementation of the law especially in the point system and the LGU reportorial requirements, the LTO has pushed for the LTO-LGU Inter-connectivity Program.

Through this, the government hopes to modernize and streamline traffic law enforcement as well as advance road safety measures.

According to the LTO through Director Noreen Bernadette San Luis-Lutey, the inter-connectivity program facilitates real-time recording of traffic violations, real-time online settlement of traffic violations and help the LTO in implementing the no confiscation of driver’s licenses.

Noting the advantages of the program, Aumentado steered the most powerful regional council into enjoining LGUs to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the LTO for the inter-connectivity program. (RAHC/PIA7/Bohol)

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNERS. Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado with Regional Directors of national government agencies and RDC sectoral representatives Aurelio Salgados and Argeo Melisimo have struggled to keep Central Visayas’ competitive advantage by forward looking and technology-led innovations. (PIAbohol)