LTO suffers IT glitch, shutdown nationwide

The Information Technology (IT) system of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Thursday afternoon had shutdown after it suffered a glitch affecting transactions nationwide.

LTO executive director Romeo Vera Cruz told GMA News Online that there were disruptions in their internet service provided by the Eastern Telecoms.

"Nationwide ho, nagreport na lahat, affected na yung mga regions. Kasi ang server ng central office ay naapektuhan because of the internet disruption," Vera Cruz said.

Vera Cruz said that Eastern Telecoms assured them that it will be fixed "expeditiously" and they will "prioritize the restoration of internet connection in LTO offices."

The LTO also appealed for "understanding and patience" from its customers nationwide who experienced longer queuing time in their transactions.

Vera Cruz said that customers are advised to go home, noting that they are willing to extend office hours if the internet service would be fixed within the day.

"Bumalik na lang sila for the picture taking, the biometrics and then the signature and then the printing of the card," he said.

Edgar Galvante said that the agency was still investigating the incident.

"Yung sa internet, that is being looked into kung anong reason bakit nag-down. We're not expecting na nagkaroon ng interruption kaya naudlot yung processing natin," Galvante said.

"Yung mga kinokoberan ng Eastern, kasi hindi pa naman kami nakakapagissue ng five-year license nationwide, mayroon lang area na available na ito, kaya kumbaga nagpapatuloy ang pagroll-out namin according sa supposed schedule," he added.

DOTr Public Information Officer Goddess Hope Libiran said that the internet connection of LTO offices nationwide was restored at 3:24 p.m. —NB, GMA News