INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/EV ESPIRITU
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Wednesday announced the imminent start of the online registration renewals of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in a bid to remove the need for “fixers.” LTO chief Jay Art Tugade said they are coordinating with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on the new Land Transportation Management System portal. The online registration began with LTO’s “online plain renewal” for private vehicles which was launched in February. According to Tugade, their launch of the online registration of private vehicles turned out to be “successful” and he now plans to bring this digitized service to PUV owners. The system was aimed at the public’s convenience and to “discourage operators from entertaining the services of fixers and eliminate nonroadworthy vehicles.” Tugade earlier said that this was also aimed at making their transactions “easier, simpler and more convenient.” —DEMPSEY REYES