LTO-7 services continue despite COVID pandemic

CEBU, Philippines —  With government operations restricted by the coronavirus pandemic, some public offices have resorted to modes of communication other than the traditional face-to-face interactions.

In the case of the Land Transportation Office-7, its so-called Malasakit Textline and Facebook page have helped bridge the agency and the public who has concerns amid quarantine.

LTO-7 Director Victor Caindec noted the important alternative provided by their Facebook page, Messenger and text hotlines for the transacting public during these uncertain times.

“It is LTO-7’s honor being able to serve the public, not only face to face, but also online with a current total of 16,732 replies on Facebook comments, Facebook Messenger, Malasakit Textline and Buntis Sakay Hotline,” the agency’s post read.

LTO-7 said its Malasakit Textline has replied to 1,351 queries on apprehensions; 2,177 queries on registration; 1,309 queries on driver’s license; 417 queries on vehicle’s plate numbers; and 836 queries on Buntis Sakay.

It also noted a total of 10,642 replies, out of which 7,073 were via Messenger and 3,559 via Facebook comments.

Caindec said that the office’s social media accounts have been active in the recent years, “updating the public with timely information, replying to queries and gathering concerns that the office acts on.”

He said that 14 working days after the LTO-7 office closed due to the COVID-19 situation, its Malasakit Bus for CCMC (Cebu City Medical Center) frontliners also commenced. Three working days more and the Buntis Sakay initiative was born.

He said Facebook was the means by which the office communicated these services to the public, which they can avail of or benefit indirectly.

The Buntis Sakay hotline, meanwhile, “systematized” the booking and round-trip rides of pregnant women passengers from near their homes to the hospitals for their pre-natal checkups and back.

The Malasakit Bus for CCMC frontliners and Buntis Sakay program ended yesterday as Cebu City and the rest of the province have been placed under general community quarantine.

LTO-7 said a total of 2,300 passengers were served by its twin programs: Malasakit Bus for CCMC frontliners (1,637) and Sakay Buntis (663).

“LTO-7 looks forward to a more helpful and more fruitful online relationship with you the driving, riding, vehicle operating public and the general public come General Community Quarantine, the New Normal, and hopefully soon back to a world 100% free from the threat of Covid-19,” the agency’s post read.  JMD (FREEMAN)