In a collective push for reform, Philippine transport groups and consumer advocates have urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to remove the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief, Atty. Vigor Mendoza, from his post. The groups argue that Mendoza’s leadership has worsened issues in the agency’s operations, citing corruption allegations and operational inefficiencies.
The Coalition for Good Governance, an alliance of leaders across transport and consumer sectors, submitted two letters to President Marcos in early 2024, on January 25 and February 6, requesting Mendoza’s removal. These letters emphasize the alleged rise in anomalies within the LTO and point to “dubious practices” that they claim are directly linked to the agency’s top leadership.
Among the most pressing complaints is the allegation of additional fees. According to the Coalition, the LTO has imposed extra “computer fees” for vehicle registration, a cost that transport leaders argue is unwarranted and burdensome for Filipino drivers.
Furthermore, the Coalition claims that the agency permits the registration of vehicles that lack the required insurance policies, even allowing registrations with fake insurance or no proper inspection. This, they say, compromises road safety and reflects poorly on the regulatory oversight at the LTO.
Much of the concern revolves around the continued use of Stradcom’s Motor Vehicle Inspection and Registration System (MVIRS), a platform that the Coalition believes should be phased out entirely. Stradcom’s contract with the LTO expired several years ago, but the system remains partially operational under what is termed a “phaseout agreement.”
In December 2021, then-LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante issued a memorandum mandating the decommissioning of Stradcom’s LTO-ITS driver’s license module. This directive instructed driving schools and medical clinics to send data solely through the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS), a government-owned platform designed to replace Stradcom’s.
The government’s efforts to upgrade the LTO’s technology infrastructure have been substantial, with an estimated 7.9 billion pesos invested in the LTMS online portal. This platform is intended to streamline operations across the LTO’s offices nationwide, allowing for a smoother experience for drivers and administrators alike.
Despite this investment, the Coalition argues that the phaseout process has been too slow, allowing Stradcom’s systems to persist when they should have been fully retired. The group contends that the delay continues to expose the LTO to unnecessary inefficiencies and possible corruption.
Among the signatories advocating for Mendoza’s removal are Diolito Inosanto, President of the Federation of Land Transport Operators of the Philippines; Martin delos Angeles, Vice President of the Philippines Transport Monitor; and Augusto Lagman, an IT practitioner and road safety advocate who also serves as a board director of the Automobile Association of the Philippines.
In its statement, the Coalition expressed frustration with the LTO’s reliance on what it described as “outdated and inefficient” technology. They questioned why the agency continues to utilize Stradcom’s systems despite the investment in LTMS, a modern platform owned by the government.
The Coalition also voiced concerns about the transparency of the agency’s operations under Mendoza. They believe that reforming the LTO’s leadership could address these issues and help restore public confidence in the agency’s capacity to oversee transportation safety and compliance effectively.
Mendoza has yet to respond to the Coalition’s allegations. Meanwhile, President Marcos has not commented on the calls for Mendoza’s removal, leaving the LTO’s leadership under scrutiny as stakeholders await further action from the administration.
For now, transport advocates hope that the President will take decisive action to resolve the controversy, which they argue has broad implications for both governance and public safety. As of presstime no official statement from LTO.