MANILA: Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II stated that the agency will review its policy on the enforcement of the Temporary Operator's Permit (TOP).

This comes after 1-RIDER Partylist Representative Bonifacio Bosita brought up that the TOP is not being properly implemented at the Department of Transportation's budget deliberation.

“Kasama po ‘yan sa mga nire-review naming policies/procedures para maitama ho naming lahat at kung pwede ho, ay masimplehan ho namin ang proseso. Asahan niyo po na isa ‘yan sa aming ire-review ah para ho sa gayon ay tama lang ho ang trato namin sa mga motorista na either nagba-violate o kung ‘di naman ay nakakagamit ng kotse but later found out na may problema pala (That is included in the policies/procedures we are reviewing so that we can correct everything and if possible, we can simplify the process. Please expect that this will be one of the things we will review, so we can properly treat motorists who either violate or are otherwise able to use a car but later find out that there is a problem),” Mendoza said.

When a motorist is apprehended, a TOP is given to them and this is valid for 72 hours. The motorist is prohibited from driving any vehicle after this period.

Mendoza stated that he will meet with the Law Enforcement and Traffic Adjudication System (LETAS) and the Law Enforcement Service (LES) to discuss the coordination of the TOP and the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2014-01.

The order outlines the revised schedule of fines and penalties for violating land transportation-related laws, rules, and regulations.

“‘Yung harmonization ng JAO at ng TOP ay kaagad agad ho naming gagawin right after this meeting. I will meet with our LETAS, LES para ma-synchronize muna kung meron hong problema sa effectivity ng suspension. Aayusin ho natin kaagad ‘yan so the moment we implement it, we would issue the necessary changes para ora mismo po matapos na natin ‘yung problema (We will do the harmonization of JAO and TOP right after this meeting. I will meet with our LETAS, LES to synchronize first if there is a problem with the effectiveness of the suspension. We will fix that right away so the moment we implement it, we will issue the necessary changes so that we can end the problem right away),” Mendoza said.

Photo from Land Transportation Office

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