Lawyer Vigor Mendoza II has committed to solve in the soonest possible time the issues and concerns on license plates and driver’s license as he assumed the leadership of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Tuesday, July 25.
Mendoza, a former party-list representative and transportation official, took his oath of office before Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista who vouched for his capability to lead the agency.
Newly installed DOTr Assistant Secretary and Land Transportation Office Chief Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II
“I will extend all assistance to Secretary Bautista by addressing various concerns of the public, including the license card shortage and motor vehicle plate backlogs,” said Mendoza during the turnover ceremony.
“Let’s not waste time and immediately work on things that need to be done. Let’s not wait five years to address any problem, if it can be addressed now, then we should all do it,” he added.
Mendoza, who was endorsed by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, was appointed by President Marcos as LTO chief last week. He replaced Jay Art Tugade who resigned in May due to disagreements with the transportation department.
Mendoza vowed to exert utmost effort in elevating LTO performance, which he said, will focus on enhancing public service and ensure exceptional quality.
Who is Vigor?
Mendoza is an alumnus of the Ateneo de Manila University, having completed his education from grade school through law school.
During his time at the Ateneo Law School, he held an esteemed position as an officer of the Student Council and was appointed as one of the editors of the Ateneo Law Journal/Bulletin, showcasing his dedication to academic excellence and leadership.
Mendoza has been a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines since 1989 with public utilities, real property and energy law, corporate law, and litigation as his areas of expertise.
The 60-year old Mendoza used to be a congressman representing the transportation sector. He remains the chairman of Party List Group 1 (United Transport Koalisyon, or 1-UTAK).
Mendoza also served as a former Board Member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) which is responsible for the operation of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in the country.
These experiences are seen as the highlight of his diverse expertise in both the transportation and energy sectors.
Mendoza also led the Philippine Delegation to the Asean Transport Summit in Malaysia and was a resource speaker on the Philippine Property Market in various international venues, including the Asia Pacific Property Seminar in Singapore, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Sponsored Foreign Investors' Conference in Hong Kong, and the Foreign Investors Seminar in Australia, his expertise in the field is widely recognized. Additionally, he served as a professor at De La Salle University, imparting knowledge on taxation and land reform to students.