LTO to open biggest office in the Visayas

CEBU, Philippines —  The Land Transportation Office is set to open its biggest office in the Visayas on October 26 and four other district and extension offices in Cebu within the year.

The biggest one is the new LTO-Cebu City District Office located at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu that can accommodate 150 clients at a given time and will feature a single-window transaction to eliminate long waiting time.

However, LTO-CCDO chief Joel Maloloy-on said that due to COVID-19 pandemic and physical distancing, the office can temporarily accommodate 75 to 100 people in one seating.

Currently, the LTO-CCDO is located at N. Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City.

The other four LTO district and extension offices will be located in the towns of Dumanjug and Ronda and in the cities of Toledo and Carcar.

LTO-7 regional director Victor Caindec said that this is meant to bring their agency closer to the public it serves.

Currently, LTO-7 has 14 district offices, two extension offices, four licensing centers, three driver's license renewal office (DLRO), an e-patrol, and a Malasakit Lounge.

 Caindec said that the old office of LTO-CCDO will be made into full-time Malasakit Lounge which will cater to special people in need like the senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disability who have transactions with their agency.

 In a media walkthrough yesterday, Caindec likewise thanked the mall management for spending P8 million for the renovation of the 405-square meter space.

 “Pasalamat kita sa management sa Robinsons kay nigasto sila og P8 million para sa aning 405 square meter nga opisina nga maoy labing dakung opisina sa LTO sa tibuok Visayas. Libre ra pud nag rental niini,” said Caindec.

Maloloy-on also said that their new office is intended for the convenience of the public.

“Para gyud ni sa convenience sa atong mga clients. Bugnaw, daku ug hayahay ang lugar,” Maloloy-on said.

Maloloy-on added that the computers from the old office are set for transfer next week in order to finalize the operations of the new office.

Aside from adopting a single-window transaction, LTO-CCDO will also have 16 counters, an examination room, a server room, a supply office, a records room for all the documents and among others.

The office will also offer a full service of all licensing and registration transactions though Maloloy-on explained that they are still waiting for the approval by the LTO Central Office to operate on the licensing transactions.

Maloloy-on also said that their operations will be extended since they are inside the mall and will just announce later whether they will be available on Saturdays.

They will open from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. to give time to regular office hour employees to avail of the LTO services.

Caindec also emphasized the importance of public dissemination before opening of any LTO office in order for the public to be informed. - GMR (FREEMAN)