THERE is no love lost between Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec.
Their war of words earlier this year made that quite apparent.
So I wasn’t surprised that Osmeña was at it again, threatening the government agency on behalf of the people of Cebu City.
Or so he claimed.
The mayor said he would kick out LTO 7 from its office on N. Bacalso Ave. if it continues to collect the P12,000 fine from drivers whose motorcycles have no license plates and registration.
He said he would turn the office into an extension of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).
“Cebu City owns the property that LTO 7 is on beside CCMC. It is my job to protect the people of Cebu City,” Osmeña said.
Just as it is Caindec’s job to do his, well, job. And that is to go after vehicles that have no license plates and that are not registered.
I think the mayor forgot to take that into consideration.
Caindec, when sought for comment, said they have yet to receive the mayor’s letter. “Tomas, perhaps, forgot that he is the mayor of Cebu City and not Facebook. We will wait for the transmittal then we will evaluate our next steps,” he said.
In fairness to Osmeña, though, he has a point.
The LTO should not penalize motorists that have been affected by the Commission on Audit’s ruling that the contract with Filipino-Dutch consortium J. Knieriem B.V. Goes and Power Plates Development Concept Inc. did not follow procedures prescribed under Republic Act 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act, which started this whole mess in the first place.
After all, it’s not the motorists’ fault.
So it’s fair to say that the LTO 7 should give them some leeway. That is, until the winning contractor is able to address the backlog of the Aquino administration. Maybe the LTO 7 can waive the penalty if the motorcycle owner can show proof that his vehicle is registered. That, or the country can prohibit the sale of motorcycles or any vehicle for that matter until the problem is solved.
We are talking about more than 10 million plates that need to be delivered.
But the LTO should continue to go after unregistered motorcycles. Maybe the mayor forgot that not having a license plate and not being registered are not the same. The latter is a violation, and Caindec would be remiss in his job if he lets violators go scot-free.
Anyway, the LTO cannot issue the motorcycle plates until Congress approves the bill for larger plates. At least that was what LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante said last July.
So the mayor should relax and not go into a hissy fit against the LTO because the latter’s hands are tied.
Unless, of course, it’s personal.
•••
My kumpare is organizing a basketball camp with Cebuano hotshot Dondon Hontiveros at the Pinamungajan Auditorium. It will be every Saturday and Sunday for the whole month of October. The activity is open to ages five-29.
Registration fee is P3,000, which already includes two Jerseys, one ball and one backpack filled with Alaska products.
For more details, please contact 09395183058 or 09185652098.