Department of Transportation (DOTr) acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez has deferred the procurement of new vehicles for the agency’s central office, and instead reallocated P50 million to improve the facilities of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) offices for customers.
Lopez issued a memorandum dated Oct. 16, saying that “in compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to give the Filipino people the public transport and services that they need and deserve, the DOTr together with its sectoral offices such as the LTO and LTFRB shall undertake measures to improve the delivery of services including the enhancement of facilities used by the general public.’
He said the reallotment would “improve existing waiting/client areas in their respective offices.” This may include the installation of air conditioning units, provision of water dispensers ang sufficient chairs, among others.
“The client who gave the feedback is right. We here in the government are just servants. As the President said, we are the Filipinos’ servants, not their lords,” Lopez said.
“We are doing this because it is more important to us at the DOTr that our countrymen have proper facilities. There is air conditioning, comfortable whether it is sunny or rainy. There is drinking water if they are thirsty and customers are comfortable even if they are waiting. Those are more important than new vehicles that can be procured even next year,” he said.
The acting transport chief also ordered the LTO and LTFRB to efficiently utilize the transferred funds, which is valid until the end of 2025.
