APALIT -- The Land Transportation Office (LTO) here has intensified its campaign against fixers through proper dissemination of information and surveillance on the possible mediators.
LTO Apalit Extension Chief Edwin Rosales said they are always on guard against these people and make sure they drive them away.
"I guess there is no way we can eradicate those fixers but the agency is doing everything to prevent them from coming the vicinity of the office," said Rosales. "We do not let them meddle with our operations."
One of their preventive measures is not letting "proxies" or people getting a license or clearance for another person. The person concerned should be the one to apply and process his papers and requirements.
"We Filipinos kasi do not want hassle. We would rather deal with fixers and shell out extra money," Rosales said.
The LTO is also posting signages, streamers, and posters regarding the disadvantages of fixing to inform the public about the trouble they may get in dealing with fixers.
Rosales advised people to just go directly to the office and deal with the authorized people of the agency only.
"If they would only try, they will know that the process is not very hard for them," he said.
Application for professional license takes 2 hours and 30 minutes for student license, according to Rosales.
"Very seldom na hindi namin namimeet yan. Usually dahil sa slow down ng mga computers dahil sa internet connection," Rosales told Sun.Star Pampanga.
In 2009, a memorandum of agreement was signed by the Civil Service Commission, the Department of Justice, the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, PNP, and the National Bureau of Investigation to create the Task Force Anti-Fixers.
The task force is tasked to entrap and prosecute fixers. Its creation was pursuant to Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act.