IN MY case, when I applied for renewal last August, I went though the procedure. The instruction at the LTO Fuente was to get the plastic driver’s license at SM Seaside office after two weeks. (The Robinsons Galleria office was not yet opened at that time). Gipaatubang pa ko sa data capturing machine unya wala diay toy pulos kay usbon gihapon. Last Friday, when I went to Galleria to supposedly claim my plastic license, I underwent another procedure and waited for five hours before it was released. Inyo man nang gitunto ug giilad ang mga applicants. You better close that Fuente office if they cannot produce a printing machine and tell the applicants to go directly to another office for them to acquire their plastic licenses on time.
When I arrived at Robinsons Galleria, I observed that some applicants filled up the forms on the floor and on their chairs. Nagtuwad ug naghapa ang uban aron lang maka-fill up sa form. Ang uban nanglingkod sa sawog. Why? Because there were no tables available and the chairs were lacking for 300 hundred applicants that they can accommodate daily. Did Caindec know the situation there? Wala, kay walay pagpakabana.
Government offices that are regularly dealing with high volume of clients like LTO should accommodate and serve their clients comfortably and conveniently. I know the one handling the processing of driver’s license applications and renewals are private service providers under contract with the LTO. Those located in the shopping malls or the Temporary Offsite Printing Office (TOPO) are private entities purposely installed to cater to the printing and releasing of the volume of applications.
The printing machines and office spaces are provided for free by mall owners while the manpower are LTO personnel. Why do mall owners offer it for free? Because they have vested and business interests. It’s a sort of a “come-on” for their shoppers. If there are 300 people coming there daily to process their licenses, these applicants will also spend for their meals and snacks and go on shopping later. Captured shoppers na. But these are still under the direct supervision of LTO. Is Caindec doing his job well in this aspect? I doubt.
When I discussed the claiming of license plates yesterday in my DYSS radio program, there were a lot of negative feedback. It is still topsy-turvy. Claimants have to line up for several hours after securing priority numbers before being served. When their turn comes after presenting the OR and CR, the personnel in-charge will ask them to wait again because they will look for the license plate among the stack of files. Why did they not sort them out first for a well-coordinated and speedy release?
Like in the procedure in license renewal at the Robinsons Gallera, which is a total mess. I don’t know if Caindec also knows the situation in the releasing of license plates at the designated areas. And now this arrogant regional director would issue a stern warning and ultimatum to car owners to claim their license plates immediately when his office cannot even handle the releasing effectively?
Mr. Caindec, be considerate by giving them enough time. Do not antagonize and threaten the car owners with apprehension and penalty. Here is a suggestion: Why not give those license plates during the annual registration? It is more convenient because owners will personally renew their registration. Why impose a one week deadline as if it’s a matter of “life and death” if car owners will not display their license plates. There are a lot of concerns and pressing matters that Caindec should address in his office than claiming of license plates. And why is it that the 2015 plate numbers are not yet available, while those for 2016, 2017 and 2018 are already for distribution? Aber, i-esplikar kuno na kay sa magsige kag hinambog diha?