CEBU CITY – The Land Transportation Office-Central Visayas (LTO-7) will be more visible on the road in the next few days as part of the “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos!: Semana Santa and Summer Vacation 2023.”
LTO-7 Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec said that starting Friday, March 31, until April 10, LTO-7 personnel will be on the road even on weekends or holidays.
Caindec said LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Jose Arturo Tugade has issued directives and guidelines as part of the preparations for the upcoming Holy Week.
"As early as the first week of March, we received a directive from Assistant Secretary Tugade to set our implementing plan before the actual launching of the ‘Oplan.’ Our personnel will remain working even during the weekends and the holidays," said Caindec.
For the next 11 days, LTO-7 personnel will be on duty in two shifts per day to maintain road safety and ensure the safety of motorists and passengers through random roadside and terminal inspections.
"Since this is one of the longest holidays of the year, we want to make sure that our passengers are safe during their travels. Right from the terminals, our personnel will check if the public transportation vehicles are fit for the roads,” said Caindec.
Among the terminals that LTO-7 will monitor are the Cebu North Bus Terminal, Cebu South Bus Terminal, Kamagayan PUV Terminal, SM City Cebu PUV Terminal, Tagbilaran City Bus Terminal, Jagna Bus Terminal, Dumaguete City Bus Terminal, and Siquijor PUV Terminals.
The LTO-7 Malasakit Help Desk will also be put up in primary terminals to assist motorists and passengers.
LTO-7 Operations Division chief Aden Belza has been instructed to deploy District Law Enforcement Teams to assist in complaints such as refusal to render service, trip-cutting, overcharging of fare, “contracting,” colorum, and other possible violations, said Caindec.
LTO-7 patrol teams composed of law enforcement officers will be responsible for roadside inspections and law enforcement activities on major roads in the region.
Likewise, the LTO Central Command Center hotline 134-2568 is 24/7 available for the public to contact should there be any complaints or issues from both motorists and passengers.
"We are very particular with the implementation of Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code especially those violators committing reckless driving, driving colorum vehicles, those with defective parts and accessories, among others," said Caindec.