LTO waives fines in effort to help typhoon victims

CEBU, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has waived the implementation of payment for late registration of motor vehicles and the renewal of driver’s license expiring this month as a way of assistance to those affected by Typhoon Kristine.

LTO Assistant Secretary Vigo Mendoza II announced their recommendation for the waiving of the penalty last Oct. 25, which he said has already been approved by Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.

The waiving of penalties covers the late registration for vehicles with October 2024 expiration, as well as for the driver’s license expiring from October 21 to 31, 2024 based on a memorandum issued by Assec Mendoza.

The waiving of penalties will be a nationwide coverage as the weather disturbance hit almost the entire country.

“The IT service providers shall see to it that the systems are ready immediately upon issuance of this Memorandum,” said Mendoza.

The penalties will be waived until November 8, 2024.

For driver’s licenses and motor vehicle registrations falling within the mentioned period, its validity had also been extended until November 8, 2024.

Along with this, Mendoza said that the imposition of penalty for new registration, the counting of days from date of Sales Invoice shall only commence on the next working day after November 8, 2024 for motor vehicles/motorcycles purchased from October 21-31, 2024.

LAPU-LAPU CONTINGENT

BACK HOME

In another development, after being stranded due to Typhoon Kristine, the 86 members of the Garbo sa Lapu-Lapu delegation who performed in Sorsogon last week finally made it back home to Cebu yesterday.

The team, which was the last batch of the 329-member contingent, left the municipality of Gubat in Sorsogon Friday afternoon and proceeded to Matnog where they took a boat ride back to the City of Bogo, north of Cebu around 2 am yesterday.

The group survived being sea sick due to the rough sea condition and arrived at 1 pm in Bogo, as relayed by Lapu-Lapu City tourism officer and head of the delegation, Garry Lao to The Freeman.

The second and last batch of the Lapu-Lapu contingent were scheduled to leave the Municipality of Gubat last October 21 but got cancelled due to typhoon Kristine. The first batch have earlier left prior the onslaught of the typhoon.

Luckily, the Oponganons were billeted in the municipality of Gubat that is situated away from the flooded area of Sorsogon.

The government of Lapu-Lapu, through Lao, expressed gratitude to the Provincial government of Sorsogon and the municipality of Gubat for attending to their needs including the provision of free food on their extended stay.

With the remaining members already back home, the entire Garbo sa Lapu-Lapu will have their courtesy call to Mayor Ahong Chan tomorrow, Oct.28, at the City Hall following a fourth runner-up finish in the recently-concluded Kasanggayahan Festival in Sorsogon. (CEBU NEWS)