By Larry Lopez

TABUK, Kalinga, Wednesday March 16 – Clients are no longer complaining about the long wait while transacting business at the provincial Land Transportation Office (LTO) here with the full operation of its on-line system.


Started in 2008 during the term of LTO assistant Secretary Arturo Lomibao, on-line services of the agency is now in place for licensing, car registration, and law enforcement.


Almar Malannag of LTO-Kalinga said the project is under the department’s computerization program throughout the country. It is the answer to a client plea for convenience since processing period is cut tremendously, Malannag stressed.


 Issuance for renewal of driver’s license takes only 30 minutes now, while for new license application, the applicant waits for only two hours for his laminated license card.


 Under the old system, issuances for driver’s license cards takes four to six months because processing takes place at the LTO head office.


 The on-line facility also provides easier access in tracing down identifications of people involved in road accidents through their registered plate numbers.


From the central data base, carowners who figure in cases are easily identified and this helps in the speedy resolution of the case. With the system, law enforcers find the adequate tool in tracing unscrupulous individuals perpetrating lawlessness in the country, Malannag claimed.


He explained that in cases where a registered car is used for lawlessness in other places, law enforcers could easily trace the owner through the central data-base.


Malannag said there is an added item for computer fee in the charges for every service of the LTO, P167.63 for plain licensing renewal, P135.26 for new license, P67.63 for law enforcement, and P169.06 for car registrations. (PIA-CAR/Kalinga )