LTO chief hits back at MMDA

Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Roberto Lastimoso has decried as baseless the accusation made by Metropolitam Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando that the LTO has not been doing its job in easing the traffic mess in the metropolis.

Lastimoso said he believes Fernando must have been misinformed by his own men who cannot offer a good explanation as to why traffic has not improved and instead conveniently pointed at LTO as the scapegoat.

"Since I assumed office in January 2002, the LTO has been waging an all-out campaign in apprehending colorum and out-of-line public utility vehicles, particularly in Metro Manila and our records will prove this," he said.

The agency’s Law Enforcement Service (LES) revealed that more than 40 public utility vehicles including buses, jeepneys and FX taxis are apprehended and impounded every day for being colorum or out-of-line. Statistics for the last quarter of the year 2002 revealed that almost 37,000 motor vehicles were impounded for various administrative offenses. Last month, 1,378 were apprehended for similar offenses.

"Chairman Fernando should not shift the blame on the LTO for his agency’s inability to solve Metro Manila’s traffic woes which is due mainly to the apparent inefficiency of MMDA’s traffic enforcers," Lastimoso said in defending LTO’s performance.