DICT to provide LTO-7 with high-speed internet

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Information and Communications Technology has entered a memorandum of agreement with the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-7 to install a high-speed internet connection to the only Malasakit Center in the country.

LTO-7 Regional Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec and DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan recently signed the MOA as the two agencies’ commitment to provide better services to the public.

LTO-7's Malasakit Lounge, which is situated along N. Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City, will soon transform into a Malasakit Center with the full capacity of services such as the licensing center for the special sector, drivers education center, a legal research library, and an e-learning portal.

Caindec said these services will harmonize DICT's high-speed internet as the agency shifts from manual to online processing.

One of which is the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) which is gradually implemented in some of the LTO offices in the country where the public can apply, book an appointment, and pay for driver's license transactions online.

In Central Visayas, it is being implemented in LTO-Tagbilaran District Office in Bohol and Dumaguete District Office in Negros Oriental.

These are among the pilot areas where the new LTO system is being implemented.

Under the said agreement, DICT shall provide up to one gigabit (Gbps) connection access to the GovNet network of LTO-7.

DICT shall also provide the person who shall install and set up the necessary network equipment while LTO-7 will provide a secured space for the said equipment.

Caindec in a statement said that this partnership is very timely since they are on the stage of setting up the LTO Management Information System, through a faster and integrated network for a fast delivery of service to the public.

DICT is currently implementing GovNet which aims to help address the basic needs of the government for transparency, efficiency, and effective governance through ICT.

The agency is also responsible for providing the actual Fiber Optic Cores and the other peripherals which are necessary for establishing a connection between the Government network and the Agency's network.

Under the DICT's GovNet an interconnected network of government agencies in the country will enable faster communication, better coordination, easier access to online services, and simplified processes.

According to DICT in their website that the main benefit of GovNet to government agencies is lower cost of internet services and faster data transfers for government-to-government communications.

GovNet is part of the E-Government Master Plan of the DICT which aims in building the fiber-to-the-building connection for government agencies, schools, local government units, and hospitals in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. — GMR (FREEMAN)