A GROUP of motorcycle dealers categorically denied the accusations made by Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Central Visayas director Victor Emmanuel Caindec that they are behind the delays in the release of motorcycle official receipts (ORs) and certificates of registration (CRs) of their customers.
The group, through its lawyer and spokesperson Gilbert Andres, made the denial after Caindec blamed them for the apprehensions conducted by LTO Central Visayas during a five-day operation in Bohol due to lack of registration documents.
The group of motorcycle dealers that Andres represents are Du Ek Sam, DES Marketing, DES Strong, DESMark and Premio.
“Instead, Caindec should pin the blame squarely on himself for his repeated failure to release motorcycle ORs/CRs within the ‘3 hours, 15 minutes’ time frame as mandated by the amended 2019 LTO Citizen’s Charter,” Andres said, in a statement sent to SunStar Cebu on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
The amended 2019 LTO Citizen’s Charter dictates that the total processing time from when the LTO client submits requirements until he receives his OR, CR, sticker, plates and RFID sticker is merely "three hours, 15 minutes."
However, Andres claims that LTO Central Visayas under Caindec has failed to do this in numerous instances, citing that the LTO 7 director was even ordered to preventively suspended by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) for violating provisions of Republic Act (RA) 11032 or the "Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018."
Arta further previously recommended that said case against Caindec be referred to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission for immediate conduct of investigation for possible violation of RA 3019 or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” and any other laws, rules, and regulations, as may be applicable.
Andres cited additional reasons behind the unjustified delays in the release of ORs and CRs including LTO Central Visayas' alleged failure to establish additional new registration units across the region.
He said there is only one new registration unit (NRU) for the entire Central Visayas, which deals in the processing of documents from the thousands of sold cars and motorcycles from Cebu and its neighboring islands of Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Bohol which have to be sent to Cebu for registration.
Another reason Andres cited is that there is only one computer shared among multiple dealers to access the DIY registration system in the region while other regions have as many as 15.
Another reason is that LTO Central Visayas only has one cashier who handles payment in the NRU, forcing dealers have to wait for the cashier to inform them that payment may now be made.
He added that Caindec designated only one release center for plate numbers for the entire region which Andres said Caindec cannot expect all motorcycle riders from the surrounding islands to claim the plate numbers in SM Seaside Cebu. Motorcycle dealers have not also received any formal communication on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that he has allegedly required dealers to sign, he added.
Andres said this has only been a Central Visayas issue as other LTO offices have already widely distributed plate numbers without the need of additional requirements.
“Thus, the dealers strongly urge Caindec to stop politicking and, instead, pin the blame on himself and then focus on how he can fix his shortcomings in LTO Central Visayas,” Andres added.
But in a statement sent to SunStar Cebu, Caindec urged Andres and his clients to "get their facts straight."
Caindec said that since he is only a regional director, he has no power to create a new office, particularly a NRU.
He added that Andres and his clients cannot feign ignorance that they were not contacted by LTO Central Visayas when he invited them and other manufacturers, assemblers, Importers, Rebuilders, Dealers and other Entities (MAIRDOEs) in the region last March for the signing of an MOU for the releasing of plates.
"A meeting with MAIRDOES was attended by majority of dealers sometime in March. Major dealers were present including motorcycle dealers. The MOU was discussed, but since they didn't send a representative, then perhaps that explains why they aren't aware," Caindec added.
Caindec also urged Andres and his clients to also follow the LTO Citizen's Charter by not submitting their records by batch and abide with RA 11302. (JKV)