Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 5) — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Friday blamed its information technology (IT) provider Dermalog on the long queues of people making transactions in their district offices.
For this reason, new LTO chief Teofilo Guadiz told Dermalog to improve their services, or otherwise the agency will find a new IT provider.
“Bumabagal po ang proseso, humahaba po ang pila sa mga district offices. [There’s delay in the process, lines are long in district offices.] So we really have to address (these problems) and we (have to) revisit the IT provider. Noong araw po [Before], it takes only two hours to renew (a) driver’s license. Now it’s taking five days, six days,” Guadiz told reporters in an interview.
The LTO chief said he will be meeting with Dermalog executives next week.
CNN Philippines is still trying to reach Dermalog for a comment.
“Gusto ko lang munang repasuhin ang kontrata [I want to first review the contract] and ask them if they can deliver. If they cannot deliver, we would look to other IT providers who can do the job for them,” he said.
Guadiz also floated the possibility that Stradcom, the agency’s IT provider from 1998 to 2016, may participate in the bidding should things “go south” with Dermalog.
“Whether it’s a new IT or an old IT, ang sukatan diyan ay kung gaano kabilis maibibigay ang serbisyo sa tao [we’ll gauge it by how fast the service is being delivered to the people]. And for me, the old IT system provides better solution… If the old IT provider Stradcom can do it, then by all means they are welcome,” he said.
Stradcom still provides the LTO with IT support in new motor vehicle registrations.
Faster, cheaper driver’s license application
Guadiz wanted to streamline the application for drivers licenses by shortening theoretical and practical courses from driving schools and making them affordable.
Currently, the agency requires a 15-hour theoretical course for student drivers and an eight-hour practical driving course for non-professional drivers.
The LTO chief said both courses may be condensed to at least three hours each.
“We are looking into very strict monitoring of driving schools kasi po isa sa mga nakita kong problema sa mga driving school, halos hindi naman sila tumutupad sa 15 hours. [The problem I’m seeing is that driving schools are not following the 15-hour requirement]. May mag-e-enroll ng umaga, pagdating ng tanghali, meron na silang certificate. Nagiging diploma mill, nagiging for sale [There are those who will enroll in the morning and leave at noontime with certificates. They become diploma mills, certificates are being sold],” Guadiz explained.
Despite the proposed shorter training period, the LTO wanted stricter conduct of written and practical examinations to ensure that all those who will get their driver’s license will be equipped with proper knowledge on road safety.
