LTO urges clients to book appointments online

As part of efforts to put an end to long queues for driver's licenses and vehicle registration, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) encouraged applicants to book appointments in advance using their online appointment system.

According to Saleema Refran's report on 24 Oras, clients can reserve one of 40 appointment slots daily by going to the LTO's website at www.lto.net.ph.

However, the service is only available in LTO pilot offices in Pasig, Muntinlupa, Novaliches and Marikina.

LTO officials noted an improvement in the agency's queuing system.

"Pag-appointment sila lahat, alam nila ang mga oras nila. Alam nila kung anong oras sila pwedeng matapos," LTO - Marikina chief Maria Claridette Edrosa said.

Rector Antiga, chief of the LTO's IT Division, said the online appointment system also prevents fixers from disrupting the queue.

"On that particular time, at saka date, ikaw 'yung nandodoon na kinonfirm ng system na dapat ikaw 'yung ise-serve. So walang chance na ikaw mismo ay lapitan ng fixers," Antiga said.

The report said appointments may be booked online until December.

Meanwhile, new or first-time applications will not be accommodated by the system.

The LTO has also assured that the current supply of license cards allows them to issue driver's licenses on the same day.

Meanwhile, vehicle plates manufactured by the agency's new plate-making facility that is intended to ease the backlog will not be issued until August or September. — Margaret Claire Layug/BAP, GMA News