Upon Gov Aumentado’s request

LTO ok’s one month grace

period prior to crackdown

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Boholanos who have been remiss in their driving licenses and vehicle registrations, or who have been neglecting to check on their vehicle’s roadworthiness, of plate numbers, have a month to fix everything, before the Land Transportation Office would start the crackdown in September.

This following the LTO green light on what Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado pleaded for the LTO to give Boholanos one last time, from three weeks to a month to settle everything before the LTO team starts their enforcement checkpoints.

“Before implementing, give us three weeks (later, the governor pleaded for a month) for the Boholanos to comply with the requirement on licenses, registration, road worthiness to as not to catch everyone off-guard,” Aumentado pleaded to LTO Officials led by LTO Regional Director Glen Galario and Regional Chief for Operations Division Aden Belza, as well as Yvonee Auza, Bohol’s supervising Transportation Regulations Officer.

Ako lang gyud ni ihangyo RD, dili ta ganahan ma issue, para pod mawala ang reklamo, the governor said, aware that LTO checkpoints often show a good number of Boholanos illegally driving with out or with expired licenses, driving unregistered vehicles, without plate numbers despite a no-plate no-travel policy, and non-roadworthy vehicles.

And as for Boholanos, the governor said, “Ato na nga obligasyon as good citizens, we need to comply with the requirements.”

Aumentado added that Boholanos are not used to have regular LTO operations to enforce the law as they are into enforcement operations in four provinces, that is why, when the operations happen, the LTO appears to be the villains.

This is just fair, Director Galario commented on the governor’s request, adding that the LTO was supposed to come to Bohol for enforcement operations a few weeks ago.

Operations are normal, Galario explained, noting that their operations are mandated in furtherance of Republic ACT 4136 OR THE Traffic Code of the Philippines.

He said the LTO mandates include enforcement on the use of valid driver’s licenses and that one is driving according to his license restrictions, that the vehicle he is on is registered, road worthy and complies with the standards for motor vehicles as per Traffic Code.

He also added that part of their mandate is for a crackdown on colorum vehicles, or vehicles illegally operating without franchise for operations and picking passengers along the way.

Colorum operations, per se are illegal, these operators are not paying taxes, and when they meet accidents, it’s usually when the victims realize that they are at a losing end, explains LTO Operations Division Head Alden Belza.

If you engage in taking passengers for a fee, you need a franchise for that, Dir Galario stressed.

The LTO which was supposed to come last month said the governor asked them if they could do a press conference prior to their enforcement to disseminate the information.

The press conference attended by the governor was part of the agreements that the governor requested the LTO, prior to its crackdown.

One month, Galario committed for the LTO to suspend its operations, and added, Do not wait to process late, you could get flagged down and you could pay penalties.

But with Negros and Siquijor now not anymore with LTO 7, expect more LTO time to conduct operations here, he added. (PIABohol)

GRACE PERIOD. Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado has pleaded for the LTO to delay its strict enforcement of the traffic code to allow compliance, and for Boholanos to simply comply as good citizens. LTO RD Glen Galario (right of Aumentado) said the plea was just fair, as it allows time for motorists to fix their issues with the LTO. (PIABohol)