LTO sets status quo on vehicle user fees

BANGUED, Abra – The Land Transportation Office has maintained a status quo on the motor vehicle users’ fees as provided for in Republic Act 8794 of 2004, known as the Motor Vehicle Users’ Charge.

Eusebio Bidalen, LTO provincial chief bared this in a radio interview saying except for computerization fees, the LTO has not yet imposed any increase in whatever fees motor vehicles are supposed to pay, he emphasized.

Bidalen, who succeeded Pedro Mailed who retired from the government service last week, warned vehicle owners to avoid transacting business with alleged “fixers” who disguise themselves as LTO personnel.

The acting chief also reminded the vehicle owners to present all their documents to the LTO for evaluation before subjecting their vehicles for emission testing.

The emission test is a requisite for the registration or renewal of the registration of motor vehicles.

Bidalen also announced new developments relative to motor vehicles registration particularly the reduction in the amount of accident insurance premium payments but with a double amount of compensation for accidents.

However, he cited the importance of having a driver’s license. Because, the premium payment for accident insurance alone, does not guarantee the payment of compensation on accident if the driver has no driver’s license or his license is expired.

As regards law enforcement, the ‘No plate, No travel’ policy of the LTO stays. In fact, LTO has tightened the enforcement of said policy by detailing an additional staff for the flying squad in Abra equipped with a new COP Patrol motor that would run after traffic violators and unregistered vehicles as well as passenger vehicles operating without franchise.


Abra officials alarmed at CPLA recruitment

BANGUED, Abra – Officials of a remote town in the province bared they were alarmed of an alleged cooperative of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army now recruiting members which they said, could bring more destabilization to the province.

Bucay town officials, during a provincial interagency meeting here last week said the recruitment could be a scam to mislead unwary recruits.

For several years, cause-oriented groups called for the dismantling of the CPLA which they said had committed a lot of human rights violations.

Regional police director Chief Supt. Eugene Martin said he would raise the concern when the technical working group of the joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police committee convenes.

At least 27 mayors attended the meeting called by Gov. Eustacio P. Bersamin at the provincial capitol here.

The mayors joined regular peace and order council members in reviewing the province’s proposed integrated area community public safety plan.

Various mayors later raised issues from their municipalities, which they deemed required assistance of the Provincial Peace and Order Council.

Issues included the Manabo town boundary dispute with neighboring Boliney which the PPOC
decided to elevate to the regional peace and order council as it required action from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Land Management Services.

The dispute involved two barangays of Boliney, namely Dumagas and Baoyan, which were reportedly part of Manabo but inadvertently included in the Boliney political boundary cadastral survey in 1991.