Thursday, November 23, 2006 Espinoza: Delay in release of driver’s licenses By Elias L. Espinoza Free Zone
THE delay in the release of the permanent (plastic) driver’s licenses in Mandaue City had nothing to do with the unpaid services worth more than P100 million of Amalgamated Motors Philippines, Inc. (Ampi) for Land Transportation Office (LTO).
Gen. Reynaldo I. Beroya, assistant secretary for LTO, confirmed to me at a dinner Tuesday night with his friends and LTO 7 officials that the delay in the releases of permanent driver’s licenses could not be related to LTO’s debts with Ampi.
Beroya, who assumed the post on Nov. 2, was here to personally attend the conduct of a public hearing yesterday on “Harmonization of Standards”, which was attended by the public transport sector, car dealers and the public.
I was stunned at the revelation of Beroya that LTO owed Ampi more than a P100 million for its services. He said he just paid Ampi last week P59 million in order not to jeopardize its services to LTO.
Ampi is the contractor for the processing and manufacture of the permanent driver’s licenses (credit card type) for LTO all over the country for more than 20 years.
Applicants for driver’s licenses in Mandaue city have complained that they have not received their permanent driver’s licenses for about a year from the time they applied for it.
Hilario B. Bohol, chief of the licensing center in LTO Mandaue city, in response to the complaints wrote Ampi Regional Supervisor Max M. Manalastas last Oct. 13 and Nov. 9 inquiring about the delay in the release of the licenses issued for the months of October and November 2005 and January and February 2006. He has not received any answer yet.
LTO Regional Director Alex Leyson, who joined Beroya in a dinner Tuesday night, said the Cebu city licensing center has not experienced delay in the release of permanent driver’s licenses to the applicants.
Director Leyson told Beroya that the delay could be on the side of Ampi’s office in Mandaue City in forwarding the applications to its head office in Quezon city.
Yesterday was the first official visit of Beroya in Cebu and the public hearing on the “Harmonization of Standards” was his first official act and attempt to put together the road safety laws and standards through education.
There is indeed a need to “harmonize” the safety standards and regulations of LTO. At the moment, the LTO is in a topsy-turvy state on matters of regulation and implementation of its laws, rules and safety standards.
The principal problem that beset LTO is the issuance of driver’s licenses.
Majority of the drivers, particularly public utility drivers, have inadequate knowledge of the traffic laws, rules and regulations, and road safety.
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The euphoria on Manny Pacquio’s victory over Erik Morales is still on. My family and I watched the fight live at Plantation Bay on Sunday upon the invitation of general manager Efren Belarmino with a minimal fee for a breakfast buffet.
Everyone in the room was on their feet with their clinched fists raised when Paquiao floored Morales the second time in the third round. It was the end of the show. In less than nine minutes Pacquiao added millions to his purse.
After the fight, everyone in the room was infuriated to see a Philippine flag on the screen carried by two young men printed with “Manny Pacquiao for President”. Believe it or not, everyone chorused in booing at what we saw.
Our merriment over Pacquiao’s quick victory was cut short by that brainless antic. Everyone was practically pissed off at the sight of that nauseating banner.
