Groups oppose transfer of Mandaue LTO branch

CEBU, Philippines - Several groups are opposed to the proposal of moving the Land Transportation Office branch in Mandaue City from its present location in Barangay Looc to Barangay Subangdaku.

Owners of drug test, insurance and medical clinic firms, as well as some LTO clients, have sought the help of city officials to lobby for the proposed transfer's scrapping.

In a letter endorsed to the City Council, the parties opposed the transfer, citing its "adverse impacts" on their economic activities, among others.

Along with the opposition letter, they also submitted a sketch plan of subdivided lots owned by the city and signatures of establishment owners on those lots who are against the move.

The parties told the council that a public hearing should have been conducted first before the planned transfer is carried out as most of them will be displaced if it pushes through.

They said they have invested time and money and secured necessary permits when they started their business in the 90s when the branch started operating in the area.

LTO officials intend to transfer the LTO branch to its new location within this month.

MORE  ACCESSIBLE

The groups contended that the present LTO office is accessible for clients since it is just a walking distance from Plaridel Street and is near a police station and the City Hall.

The current LTO office also has a wide parking space, they said.

In contrast, the proposed location for LTO branch's transfer at its Motor Vehicle Inspection System building in Subangdaku is "not an ideal one" because of heavy traffic congestion in the area being a major road network leading to Cebu City and vice versa.

The relocation, they said, may also violate the mandate from the Department of Public Works and Highways which prohibits vehicles from parking at major roads.

They added that the LTO-MVIS building is daily loaded with big vehicles set for inspection for their registration.

A certain Danilo Dionson, owner of a medical clinic just across the present LTO office, has also questioned the presence of drug testing and medical clinic inside the MVIS compound in Subangdaku.

Engineer  Claro Lumagas, MVIS officer-in-charge, however, said he was not aware of persons given concessions to hold office at the said compound.

SUGGESTION

The transfer came on the heels of Mayor Jonas Cortes' offer to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to convert the present LTO branch office as an extension of its facility, with the city jail being congested.

The jail facility is only designed for 400 inmates when built in the 90's but at present it is being occupied by 1,200 inmates.

But the stakeholders suggested the city should instead use the vacant lot owned by the Bureau of Internal Revenue which is just adjacent to the BJMP.

They said the lot has a wider space compared to the present LTO office which only covers an area of 264 square meters.

They further said the present LTO office lies in a commercial-residential zoning area, adding that it is best for the city to find a much bigger place for them, especially that the city owns lots in Barangays Basak, Labogon and Casili. (FREEMAN)