CEBU, Philippines – The Land Transportation Office has cancelled all deputation orders to non-government organizations and government employees enlisted by LTO to help enforce traffic laws.
LTO Regional Director Raul Aguilos said the cancellation took effect last July 6 upon orders of Department of Transportation and Communication Assistant Secretary Arturo Lomibao. Lomibao also acts as chief of LTO.
Aguilos said Lomibao wants all deputation orders to come from his office for proper evaluation. In effect, all apprehensions made by deputized agents after July 6 are null and void.
Still, Aguilos said he will recommend the issuance of deputation orders to NGOs that have reportedly been very useful and helpful in LTO’s campaign against erring drivers.
In Central Visayas there are about 400 LTO deputized agents, including the members of Task Force Alpha and Task Force Delta in Cebu.
LTO deputized agents have been the subject of several complaints from motorists because of alleged abuses. Aguilos, however, clarified the complaints have nothing to do with the cancellation of the deputation orders.
Members of the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo said they will monitor within the next few days if deputized agents of are complying with the cancellation order.
After their rally yesterday, NADSU chairman Ruben Rama said they have already given their position paper to the office as regards the deputized agents being allowed to issue a Temporary Operating Permit.
NADSU alleged some of the deputized agents allegedly use the position to make money while other allegedly do not even know how to issue a TOP.
Rama said LTO Assistant Regional Director Edgar Catarungan have assured them that deputized agents are no longer allowed to issue TOP’s and that their identification cards have been surrendered to the national office.
However, in a previous interview, Aguilos said they will ask Lomibao to allow deputized agents in Metro Cebu to issue TOP’s while the office is still reviewing the issue.
In a separate development, NADSU said the three biggest oil companies Caltex, Petron, and Shell should also roll back their prices considering that Unioil has done so by rolling back to P4 per liter.
“Unsa may nakalahi nila sa Unioil? Naka-rollback man gani ang gamay na company, samot na sila,” he argued. — Fred P. Languido and AJ A. de la Torre/JMO (THE FREEMAN)