Dizon vows to prioritize overhauling LTO as he returns to DOTr

MANILA, Philippines — Returning Transport Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday vowed to implement reforms in the Land Transportation Office (LTO), as well as prioritize the commuters’ welfare and road safety to improve the public transportation system. 

Dizon made this commitment a day after the latest Cabinet revamp where he was reappointed as the Transport secretary while Secretary Giovanni Lopez will take the helm of the Department of Public Works and Highways. 

Dizon said that he will continue the programs and reforms that were initiated by Lopez in the agency. 

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READ: Dizon, Lopez swap agencies in latest Cabinet revamp

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“Sabi ng Palace kahapon, yung hirap ng commute kailangang ayusin yan. Itutuloy ang nasimulan namin ni [Secretary Giovanni] nung nasa DOTr siya at ako isa sa magiging priority ko ang LTO,” Dizon said in a press conference. 

(According to the Palace yesterday, we have to address the hardships of our commuters. We will continue what [Secretary Giovanni] started when he was in DOTr but LTO will be one of my priorities.)

Dizon noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered him to overhaul the LTO amid complaints about long queues, fixers, and delays in processing public documents. 

LTO was among the most complained agencies in the first quarter of the year, according to the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta). In its report released last May, Arta said that LTO received 152 complaints from January to March, of which 132 of them were already resolved. 

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Meanwhile, as the two secretaries swap leadership roles, Lopez said that he advised Dizon to prioritize the budget of the DOTr, noting that the agency has a lot of big ticket projects. 

“Alam naman niya yung implementing stage galing siya doon pero kahit anong implementation, kung walang pondo o kulang ang pondo, maaantala at maantala ang malaking proyekto,” Lopez said in the same press conference. 

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(He already knows the implementing stage because he already experienced that but regardless of the implementation, if there is no fund, there will be a delay in implementing big projects.)

Further, Dizon said that the concerns on road safety and the woes of the commuting public must be addressed already. 

“Talagang ipaglalaban namin yung mga kailangang gawin para padaliin yung buhay ng mga commuter, pedestrian, vulnerable sector, PWD [persons with disabilities] na nagcocommute din, naglalakad din, sumasakay ng MRT [metro rail transit], jeep, bus,” Dizon stressed. 

(We will push for what needs to be done to improve the lives of commuters, pedestrians, the vulnerable sector, and the PWD who use public transportation everyday.)

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He also pointed out how the safety of many commuters are at risk due to defective warning signs and non-compliance to standards of traffic guidelines. /mr