By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II, newly-installed Chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), has directed regional directors to submit all the data on franchises issued across the country as he vowed to expedite addressing the public transportation problems especially in urban areas.
Chairman Mendoza said that LTFRB Regional Directors will be given seven days to comply with the submission of data that include all units that were given authority to operate and how many of these units are still operating.
“We have to get all these data so that we can decide properly and appropriately. The Filipino people can be assured of data-based decision-making that will benefit millions of commuter,” Mendoza said.
The priority to consolidate and review data is in line with the instruction of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. to Acting Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez to ensure the convenience and welfare of commuters.
“Sobra ang dinadanas ng ating mga kababayan sa pag-commute mula pagpasok sa trabaho at paaralan hanggang pag-uwi, at araw-araw yan. Gusto nating mapabilis ang aksyon,” he said.
And providing solutions to all the commuting problems, Mendoza said, starts with accurate data.
The task is seemingly impossible but so is the 11-year old backlog on license plates that was resolved by Chairman Mendoza within two years of his leadership in the Land Transportation Office—with the full support of President Marcos.
Aside from the license plate backlog involving millions of license plates, Mendoza was also instrumental in addressing the shortage of plastic cards being used for driver’s license and the security paper being used for printing LTO documents.
In the LTFRB, Chairman Mendoza vowed to bring the same level of dedication and focus for the sake of commuters.
“Suportado po ng ating Pangulo ang anumang hakbang na magpapagaan ng buhay ng mga commuters. On the part of the LTFRB, titiyakin natin na sa Bagong Pilipinas, mga commuter ang panalo sa maayos at serbisyong tapat,” Mendoza said. ###
