Saturday, October 04, 2008 Cuenco asks LTO: Explain plan
REP. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south) yesterday said he will move to defer consideration of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) budget on Monday, until Assistant Secretary Alberto Suansing explains why he wants to require drivers to get life insurance before they can get license.
Cuenco said it’s not good that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and LTO will engage in business in behalf of Centennial Insurance Corp. in the guise of helping the public utility drivers.
Cuenco said he will oppose the proposal.
“Klaro kaayo nang negosyo (It’s apparently a moneymaking venture),” Cuenco said.
Rep. Pablo Garcia (Cebu Province, 2nd district) said the DOTC and LTO can be charged with the ombudsman for calling a public hearing intended to promote an insurance firm’s services.
“That is giving undue advantage to a business firm and that is punishable under the law,” Garcia said.
The public hearing was called to take up Department Order 48-1195-A issued by former assistant secretary Benjamin Calima on June 10, 1998. This required life insurance coverage for drivers before they can get a license.
Opposition
The LTO failed to implement Calima’s order because several drivers’ groups in various parts of the country opposed it.
LTO 7 Raul Aguilos said those in charge of the public hearing already knew that majority of the drivers in Central Visayas, particularly Cebu, oppose the requirement.
Drivers from the Nagkahiusang Drivers sa Sugbo, Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators’ Association (CSMBOA), Cebu Provincial Bus Operators’ Association and Cebu Integrated Transport Services Cooperative are also against the insurance requirement.
CSMBOA president Julieto Flores described the insurance requirement as a waste of money, effort and time. (EOB)
