Noy queues up at LTO, gets driver’s license in 26 minutes

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino waited in line at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Tayuman, Manila to renew his driver’s license, two days before its expiration on his birthday tomorrow.

Newly promoted Undersecretary Rey Marfil, who accompanied the President along with Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, said people applying or renewing their driver’s license were surprised to see the President waiting for his turn.

It was the second time that Aquino personally went to the LTO office to renew his driver’s license since he assumed office. The first time was at the LTO main office in East Avenue in Quezon City in 2011 when former LTO chief Virginia Torres accompanied him.

“As a law-abiding citizen, he personally went to the LTO office, lined up and did not ask for any special treatment. He underwent the whole process and the process was completed,” Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office told newsmen.

Lily Cadores, licensing center chief at LTO-Tayuman, said Aquino insisted on not being given VIP treatment.

“He personally inquired with the customer service and waited with the crowd. While waiting for his turn, there were people asking to have their picture taken with him. His queue number was 84,” she said.

Aquino also went through the process of having his photo taken using the computer cameras and signing the signature card.

According to the Routing Slip of the LTO, the total processing time for Aquino’s license was 26 minutes, or from 10:32 to 10:58 am.

“He was surprised at how fast his license was processed. He thought he was given VIP treatment but we explained that we were just operating regularly,” Cadores said. “We think he was happy with our services.”

Aquino likes to drive even if he is now the country’s chief executive.

During the senatorial campaign in 2013, he took over the steering wheel of his bulletproof sport utility vehicle and drove from Baguio City to Manila with the convoy of Presidential Security Group vehicles and an ambulance behind him.

Prior to computerization of the system at the LTO, license renewals took more than a week.

Stradcom Corp. is maintaining the system at the LTO despite its not receiving several payments from the LTO since 2010. The LTO currently owes Stradcom almost P5 billion for services that have been and continue to be rendered.

The contract of Stradcom as the IT provider of the LTO expired in February 2013 but has been extended on account of two failed bids for a new LTO-IT system due to the failure of applicants to meet DOTC requirements.