New LTO Chief Roberto Cabrera: I will make sure there will be no more fixers

Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Roberto Cabrera says that eradicating fixers within his agency---starting with the LTO Compound in East Avenue, Quezon City---is his primary agenda as the newly-installed LTO chief.

“I will make sure that there will be no more fixers within the compound. Bawal ang favoritism,”  he said.

Cabrera took over the LTO helm last January 4, 2016, replacing Alfonso Tan Jr., who resigned in the middle of December due to family concerns.

Cabrera was the former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) executive director prior to his appointment as the new LTO chief for the next six months, before a new administration comes in.

Fixing the fixers

Some branches of the LTO are reportedly surrounded by “fixers,” or individuals who offer to expedite the licensing process for applicants for a corresponding price. 
According to Cabrera, applying for a non-professional license would cost around P600 but availing of a fixer’s services would allegedly cost around P2,500 - P 4,000 depending on the urgency of your request. 

To remedy the problem, Cabrera would require LTO employees to observe the numbering system strictly, following a “first-come, first-served” basis in queuing. He believes this will prevent employees from favoring applicants got the services of a fixer over applicants who lined-up by themselves to avail their services.

“I will file appropriate charges to any LTO officer who will be proven to be part of any illegal dealing or partnership with fixers,” he stressed.

He also warned LTO employees  that  those proven to be working with fixers will face serious consequences.

“If you cannot reform, then you don’t have any business with this agency. ‘Pag ganiyan, humanda na silang matanggal o kaya naman ma-floating.”

He also aims to establish an efficient system for driver's license renewal by installing more Driver’s License Renewal Offices (DLROs) at various shopping malls nationwide. This way, people will no longer need to avail the services of fixers because processing license renewal will be more convenient and within their reach.

An end to license backlog

With his new post, Cabrera is also confronted with the issues regarding the thousands of undelivered license plates and the backlog in driver's license card, .  He assures the public that he will work double-time to address such matters.

“I will periodically give updates to the Filipino people regarding the status of their applications for license and license plate. Kung kailangan pumasok ng weekends para mapag-aralan ang gagawin dito, gagawin natin iyan,” he said.

However, he also admitted that he cannot tell yet when the backlogs will be fully resolved.

“Mahirap ko pong masabi at this point kung ilang linggo or kung  ilang buwan po nating magagawa. But rest assured na i-do-double time na natin upang maproseso na ang kailangan maproseso.”

On Allcard Philippines, Inc.

At the same time, Cabrera will also face the legal problems of the LTO, including the one concerning the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) ruling that stopped the award and payment of the driver's license card supply contract to Allcard Philippines Inc. as there “appears to be no approved budget for the project.”

On May 2015, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), which supervises the LTO,  awarded a new contract for the supply of 5 million driver’s license cards to Allcard Philippines Inc., which submitted the lowest bid of P336.87 million.

“Wala pa po kaming masasabing time-frame kung kalian mareresolba lahat. May legal process po kasi tayong sinusunod pero makakaasa naman po kayo na ito ay tinututukan natin,” Cabrera said. ---BMS, GMA Public Affairs