ILOILO City – To address the concerns of travelers gearing up for All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2), the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has set up helpdesks in various transport terminals across Western Visayas.
The helpdesks have been operational since Oct. 22, said Rizza Otayde, spokesperson of LTO Region 6.
Each helpdesk is being manned by four LTO personnel.
In this city, the LTO helpdesks are at the Ceres bus terminal in Barangay Camalig, Jaro district; the transport terminal across Christ the King Memorial Park in Barangay Ungka, Jaro; the terminal in Barangay Tagbak, Jaro; and the bus terminal in Molo district.
LTO also has a helpdesk at the transport terminal in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo.
In smaller transport terminals, Otayde said, LTO has deployed roving personnel.
Aside from helpdesks, LTO is also checking the road-worthiness of public utility vehicles.
“The checking actually started on Oct. 22 at various bus and jeepney transport terminals. We have inspectors,” said Otayde.
Buses or jeepneys with major defects would be grounded until they have been fixed.
Also part of LTO’s ensuring the safety of travelers is its random drug testing of public utility drivers in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Those who flunk the drug test won’t be allowed to drive, said Otayde, and they would be recommended for rehabilitation.
“Naga-appeal kami sa mga pasahero. Please bear with us kon may gina-conduct kami nga inspection. Indi man ina madugay,” said Otayde./PN
