LTO XI is 4th top performing region for 2010

The Land Transportation Office XI ranked fourth in the overall top performing regions for 2010, following Regions IV-Batangas, III-Pampanga and National Capital Region which took the first, second and third places respectively.

“Among the basis for its selection include the region’s revenue collections, infrastructure projects all over the region, road safety program and the Citizen’s Charter,” LTO XI oic regional director Atty. Jesus Zozobrado III said.

The selection also took into consideration the ISO report based on ISO 9001:2000 to 9001:2008 certification. Among the LTO XI District Offices that have been certified are the Metro Davao Licensing Center, Tagum City and Mati. The Compostela Valley and Samal Extension Offices are set for ISO Certification this year.

ISO 9000 is included in the family of quality management systems standards being maintained by the International Organization for Standardization or ISO. Among the requirements before the certification is granted include the keeping of adequate records, set of procedures applied to all the key business processes, monitoring of these processes to ensure their efficacy, checking of output for defects, regular review of the processes and continuous improvement.

LTO became ISO-2001 Certified after its revenues more than doubled thanks to the agency’s successful computerization project which reduced the renewal of driver licenses from months to only hours, and car registration from days to only hours.

“It takes a lot of effort to be ISO-Certified so we continuously provide ISO Awareness seminars for our people,” Zozobrado said. Among the seminars conducted by the LTO XI include the Quality Management Systems Briefing, Re-tooling seminar for cashiers, Deputy Document Controller Retooling Seminar and Re-tooling Seminar for Supply Officers.

Zozobrado said the launch of the Citizen’s Charter and Road Safety Advocacy of the region last December were also factors that helped LTO XI to be included in the Top 5 performing regions nationwide. The Citizen’s Charter, which came as a result of Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act, aims to improve the efficiency in the delivery of government service to the public.

“We hope to be more efficient and effective in providing the necessary services to the people with the implementation of the Citizen’s Charter along with the ISO Certification,” he said.

Zozobrado said good governance for LTO relies on two things---the efficiency of the internal operations which is already part of the LTO’s ISO and the achievement of customer or client satisfaction which is now being addressed through the Citizen’s Charter.

LTO XI vows to implement Citizen’s Charter Program

Land Transportation Office XI officer-in-charge Assistant Regional Director Atty. Jesus Joseph Zozobrado III yesterday vowed to implement the Citizen’s Charter and Road Safety Advocacy Program in all offices of the LTO in Region XI.

The Citizen’s Charter and Road Safety Program was formally launched in Region XI yesterday, December 15, at the Grand Menseng Hotel, with LTO Assistant Secretary Arturo Lomibao in attendance.

“The Citizen’s Charter may as well be the center piece of LTO’s operations as it is based on our vision of establishing a well-developed transportation system that will play a vital role in improving the lives of the Filipino people,” Zozobrado said.

And since travel is an unavoidable part of daily life, it is LTO’s goal to provide the people with a more viable, efficient and secured travel, he said. But that is only part of LTO’s mandate, which requires us to be in close contact with the very people that aim to serve, he added.

To make the public benefit from government service particularly LTO’s services, he said, the agency is bent on making sure that the public is able to accomplish their tasks in a fast and efficient manner and the Citizen’s Charter plays a big role in accomplishing this.

The Citizen’s Charter is being implemented in support of the Anti-Red Tape Law otherwise known as Republic Act 9485. This requires the government agencies, to make known to the public the necessary steps, documents and payment needed to accomplish certain transaction involving their offices.

Zozobrado said the global efforts being exerted for Road Safety Advocacy is overwhelming but LTO XI can do its part by making sure that all transactions involving their office is properly managed and implemented without unnecessary delays.

Braga Urge Gov't, Agencies, Private Groups To Closely Monitor Implementation of Fuel, LPG Price Rollback

Davao City Councilor Pilar Braga yesterday urged government offices and private groups to closely monitor if the concerned entities are implementing the roll back in the prices of fuel, Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG and fare.

In a resolution she passed during this morning's council session, Braga cited the Department of Trade and industry, Department of Energy, Task Force Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Land Transportation Office and the Franchising Regulatory Board as the government agencies that should spearhead the monitoring of the price rollback, She also urged other consumer groups to monitor the rollback in the prices of LPG, fuel and fare.

Braga said the prices of oil products have rolled back several times during the past weeks. However, she added, oil companies are quick to increase prices but are not that quick when it comes to reducing the prices when there is a price rollback.

The slow pace in the adjustment of taxi and public utility fares is a case in point, she said.

She said the price of LPG has been rolled back the past week but LPG prices in the city practically remain the same.

Senator Revilla Takes Councilor Zozobrado's Local Ordinance To The Senate

The late councilor Jesus Zozobrado may be smiling in his grave today knowing that someone in the Senate is making sure that an ordinance he laid down in the local level will be followed nationwide.

Zozobrado authored an ordinance requiring motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. Aside from banning children below 7 years old from riding motorcycles, the ordinance also mandated that only two people be allowed to ride motorcycles to avoid accidents.

Barely two years after the implementation of the local ordinance, here comes Senator Bong Revilla with Senate Bill 1863 requiring the wearing of standard helmets for all motorcycle drivers and the back rider for all types of trips.

While this policy is already incorporated in the Land Transportation Office rules, it has gained much popularity when Zozobrado took the challenge of penalizing the local habal-habals and other motorcycles that did not follow the ordinance. Some of his peers believed it was political suicide but knowing the late councilor who never backed away from a challenge, it was a small price to pay for the safety of the Dabawenyos.

At least 45% of the total vehicles registered in the country comprise of motorcycles. Latest figures show there are 3.5 million registered motorcycles throughout the country but the number is expected to go up. It is alarming to note that 24% of the 11,425 accidents in 2005 and 35% of the total traffic accidents during the first two months of 2006 involved motorcycles.

Taxi: public or private?

Is anything wrong with this photo?

Well, the photo looks just right even if taken while the photographer was mobile. However, something is wrong with this Maligaya taxi's plate number. This taxi traveled all the way from Matina, through the Ulas police outpost (where Land Transportation People are usually stationed) and onto Mintal and yet no authority seems to have noticed its problematic plates.

Taxi units are for hire vehicles and are supposed to have yellow plate numbers. So why is this taxi ferrying passengers with a green plate?