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Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Transportation bureau closes down extension offices
By Lino Dela Cruz
Iligan correspondent
ILIGAN CITY -- The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) recently closed its extension office here and in other regions in Mindanao.
In a memorandum sent to regional director for Northern Mindanao Mandangan Darimbang last December 22, LTFRB chairperson Maria Elena Bautista ordered the closure of its extension office in this city until further notice.
"Extension offices of all Regional Offices are hereby directed to cease and desist operations until further notice," Bautista said.
The LTFRB extension office was immediately closed and Darimbang explained that the move is part of the board's effort to streamline and cut costs in its nationwide operations.
But the closure drew criticisms from the vehicle owners and transport groups here since the Northern Mindanao office is in Cagayan de Oro City and they have to travel for at least one and a half hours and spend on gasoline.
"We thought the government's policy is to bring government closer to the people," a transport group leader said.
"We are just following orders, in fact our Iligan personnel have to make adjustments because they reside in Iligan and are required to work in Cagayan de Oro City," Darimbang said.
An LTFRB employee who asked anonymity said it is expected that "fixers" would proliferate.
This is because the transacting public would find it convenient to delegate for a fee to the fixer, documents for whatever transactions they have with LTFRB to save on time, money, and the inconvenience of traveling.
The City Government, after receiving complaints about the closure of the LTFRB office, offered to assist through providing an office space or building for use as LTFRB extension office.
(December 27, 2005 issue)
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