Rama asks LTO to transfer office

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the Land Transportation Office regional building transferred to another site to pave way for a multi-functional complex.

Rama believes that once the LTO office is relocated, a complex, housing a wellness, quick response and medical complex would be realized. This serves as an extension facility of the Cebu City Medical Center.

“They should give way already because I want to complete the services of CCMC once it will be built. The whole area I will convert it into a complex-wellness, quick response and medical complex,” he said, adding that the city owns the lot where the LTO office sits.

Rama urges the LTO officials to scout for a new regional office.

“They should be the one to look for their site because they all have the money,” he said.

He added that this concern will be brought to the attention of Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya.

The back portion of the LTO-7 regional office is occupied by the CCMC annex building formerly the CITOM building.

Also, Rama earlier eyed Citilink terminal as an integrated facility catering wellness and quick response center.

He said the proposed development would serve as an expansion to the hospital since he is not planning to renew Citilink’s contract.

Rama earlier announced that the city would not renew the terminal’s contract as it allegedly violates a provision of a city ordinance prohibiting the operation of a terminal near a hospital.

A product of a public-private partnership, One Citilink Terminal started operating in 2003 on a 1.8-hectare property beside CCMC along Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

In 2012, CITOM also requested LTO officials to transfer the LTO regional office because the area is already congested.

“Due to this increase in both human and vehicular traffic within the city-owned property, we have both observed and have received complaints from the general public who wish to avail of CITOM’s and LTO’s services but have experienced difficulty in entering, exiting, and parking their vehicles inside,” read CITOM resolution.

In a separate interview, LTO director Arnel Tancinco said they are willing to transfer, however, asked for adequate time.

“There is no problem with that, as long as we would be informed. We just need time,” he said adding that they will still wait for the issuance of the official notice to vacate from the city government.

“Nagkinahanglan pa mi og notice to vacate from the city government,” said Tan-cinco in a phone interview.

He said he was able to converse with the city mayor, as well as with CITOM executive director and lawyer Rafael Yap, regarding their plan of converting the office into a quick response and wellness center.

He disclosed that his predecessor, former LTO director Raul Aguilos, did receive a letter from Mayor Rama. — (FREEMAN)