The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will open two more satellite offices in Palawan, namely in the towns of Coron and Narra, to respond to the increasing number of transactions and provide accessibility to remote areas in the MIMAROPA region.
During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on June 4 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, Regional Director Eduardo De Guzman said that this initiative will also help provide ease of doing business for the clients of the agency, particularly those coming from island municipalities and barangays.
The soft opening of the satellite office in Coron is scheduled for June 11, while the opening of the LTO site in Narra has not been mentioned yet.
“In the interest of bringing the services of LTO closer to the public efficiently and effectively, and on top of ensuring an adequate number of LTO employees to cater to the needs of an increasing volume of transactions,” he said.
De Guzman explained that the establishment of district offices is anchored on the LTO Circular 2020-5200 dated July 21, 2020. Palawan has a regional extension office in the City of Puerto Princesa and a satellite office in Roxas, which was opened in 2023.
Aside from Palawan, LTO will open additional satellite offices in the provinces of Marinduque and Romblon to accommodate transactions such as applications for drivers’ licenses.
De Guzman, on the other hand, reiterated the stricter process implemented by LTO for the issuance of drivers’ licenses in a bid to ensure safer roads. It is to align the measures with the implementing rules and guidelines of Republic Act 10930, citing that only deserving applicants with skills and knowledge in road safety will be granted a license.
The recipients of licenses should be equipped with sufficient driving skills and knowledge on road safety and road courtesy, he added.
“It is only a simple privilege. Hindi ‘yan karapatan. Ang batas natin under RA 10930, the establishment of stricter rules for the issuance of driver’s license. Sa totoo lang, as per record sa World Health Organization, ang Pilipinas ang pinakamalaking bilang ng vehicular accident at mga vehicular crashes,” he said. (RG/PIA MIMAROPA – Palawan)
