LTO now just a click away

Want to complain about poor service or an erring traffic enforcer of the Land Transportation Office (LTO)? Do so, the LTO is now just a click away.

Last Tuesday, the LTO launched its website, www.lto.gov.ph, as part of its $85-million information technology project that is envisioned to bring the agency closer to the public.

"The LTO website will establish the presence of LTO in the World Wide Web. It contains all information there is to know about the LTO," said LTO chairman Roberto Lastimoso.

Through the website, the LTO can assist the public "in the easiest and fastest way possible" on vehicle registration, driver’s license and adjudication of traffic cases.

"Anytime, they can send in complaints, queries, requests for assistance and other concerns and expect fast response from the LTO. I urge the public to visit our website and experience the LTO’s public service online," Lastimoso said.

Under the program, complaints can be filed with the LTO through the website. The complainants, in turn, will be notified of the LTO’s response through their e-mail addresses.

The LTO’s IT project started in 1998 under the build-own-operate scheme. The contract was bid out and won by Stradcom Corp.

According to Stradcom chief operating officer Ramon Reyes, they expect the project to be completed by yearend.

Reyes said the project was initially targeted for completion in 2001 but because of changes in the national leadership, lack of LTO personnel and resistance of some LTO employees to the new technology, the target was not met.

"We had to make the employees accept the computerization system. Some of them thought that there would be displacement of personnel so we had to explain to them what the project was all about and how it would help the LTO improve its service," he said.

The project was conceptualized in 1994. But because of a change in administration from former President Fidel Ramos to former President Joseph Estrada, the project was shelved for six months while undergoing review.

The project involves the interconnection of the LTO’s 250 offices nationwide, automation and integration of its business transactions.

At present, Reyes said the LTO offices in almost all regions are interconnected, except for Southern Mindanao and Central Mindanao because of security reasons.