LTO reacts to Pamintuan’s column

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) clarified yesterday it has nothing to do with the skyrocketing prices of early warning devices (EWDs) sold to motorists.

For the information of the transacting public, retired police director Nestorio Gualberto, regional director of the LTO National Capital Region, said the EWD committee has granted certificates of conformity to the following manufacturers or dealers: Well Glow Trading, Safe Shine, A2 Market Plus Inc., and IPM Trading.

In her column Sketches on May 14, columnist Ana Marie Pamintuan said motorists are complaining that they are required to buy EWDs from the LTO at nearly double the regular retail prices before their vehicles can be registered. She said a pair of EWDs cost nearly P500. LTO chief Roberto Lastimoso has made it mandatory for motorists to acquire EWDs before registering their vehicles.

Lastimoso may have the safety of motorists in mind when he imposed the EWD requirement but its stiff price added to the burden of vehicle owners.

Pamintuan said the LTO-approved EWDs are assigned serial numbers with a corresponding sticker that must be displayed on a vehicle’s windshield. Without those stickers, motorists could be apprehended.

In his letter to Pamintuan, Gualberto made it clear that LTO personnel are prohibited from selling EWDs to clients.

Gualberto also pointed out that LTO does not manufacture nor distribute EWDs and therefore has no authority to change or reduce its prices in the market. — Non Alquitran