My LTO plastic card experience

I was in it for the long haul. I knew it would take a long time before I could grab hold of those plastic cards. So, I hit the queue with the rest of the people who wanted so bad to have their cards in front of this huge mall somewhere at the South Road Properties.

I wore my backpack like it contained all I needed for the battle. I brought with me water, food, and some television series to help me kill time. At the crack of dawn, I was already at the mall. In fact, I saw the sunrise and it was beautiful and pretty like I imagined it to be. I joined the many others who were frustrated and angry at the system kept on going. It made us wait for hours and hours and hours. I sat on the floor and munched on my snacks and I took a glimpse of those who were in the same room. It was such a hassle, believe me. The Land Transportation Office should think twice about how they give out their licenses. Imagine, the mall opens at 10 a.m. then there is another queue for everyone. I shared the same frustration as the rest of the people.

Many times their system went offline and such ridiculous moments when encoders had to pee or eat at the same time.  I never thought I would experience the same things that I have heard and seen only on television. Is it the best that the LTO could give to the public? Maybe, at the very least. There could be something more, I guess. Like an online system, or something. I heard their working on it. Too late, it seems.

Yes, it’s true the printing of the licenses cards would only take less than five minutes given that all your information encoded by the staff is correct but there is no such system in lining up for you to save time. They only accommodate about 300 people, plus priorities like pregnant women, persons with disabilities, the elderly and those who have connections within the LTO.

Well, what is a day compared to five years of the validity of your licenses, right? Others had to skip work just for the plastic cards. I scheduled it on my day off, too. If only it were more efficient, more convenient and less hassle for all. I felt sorry for those who didn’t get paid that day and only wearing slippers, t-shirt and tattered jeans. You knew by then that driving was their living.

The LTO officials are good friends of mine but I couldn’t believe the agony one has to go through to get hold of a license that’s good for five years. We are all a work in progress. I know the LTO also has plans. To its leaders, maybe they’d like to tone down the aggressiveness on some issues that don’t concern the office and focus more on improving the citizens’ experience.