LTO-6 has new regional director

CEBU, Philippines - Land Transportation Office-Region 6 will have a new regional director today, replacing Dennis Singzon who is reassigned to LTO central office traffic adjudication service.

The installation ceremony of the new LTO-6 director, Roland Ramos, was held Thursday in Iloilo City by Transportation Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, to be attended by the Internal Audit personnel from the LTO central office and of the regional office.

Back in August 2016, Ramos had applied for the position on his own without backings, except for his qualifications, one of which is Masters in Public Administration and long years of experience as enforcer of traffic rules an regulations and a banker. 

At one time, he was endorsed favorably by Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and the Dumaguete City Council to be the interim LTO director of the newly created Negros Island (Region 18).

Ramos was first assigned in 1999 at the Bayawan City LTO mobile unit, which he fought to become an extension office in 2002. He was then transferred to Bais City district office and then to Dumaguete.  On that same year, he became the regional model employee of LTO-7 first level.

It was in Dumaguete, where unseen hands had worked for his transfer to Jagna, Bohol due to his unrelentless campaign to rid the streets of violators including the strict implementation of  the helmet law.

He was unceremoniously removed and suspended for 90 days, for trumped up complaints, but eventually vindicated with the dismissal of the charges for lack of procedural process, such as the preliminary investigation.

Raised from a poor family and humble beginnings in Barangay Looc, Dumaguete City, Ramos was first hired  as a rural banker in 1977. He entered LTO in 1999 as clerk 2 and traffic enforcer and  then rose from the ranks until he became district chief in Dumaguete because of his dedication to public service.

Before his appointment  as director II of the LTO on December 6, 2016 by President Rodrigo Duterte, Ramos was deputy chief for operations, chief of the Law Enforcement and Traffic Adjudication Section and at the same time LTO-7 hearing officer.

Ramos has vowed to implement what he considers a very tall order to remove and or suppress corruption in the LTO as well as continue the other mandates for good governance. He enjoins all the employees of the LTO in Region-6 comprising the provinces of Negros Occidental, Iloilo and Panay Islands, to rally behind the new leadership in making LTO-6 a corrupt-free office. (FREEMAN)