On Rama’s demand: LTO okay to move office, but no transfer area yet

CEBU, Philippines- Following the Cebu City government’s “demand”, the Land Transportation Office-7 has agreed to vacate its current location at NatalioBacalso Avenue.

But as much as they want to already turn over the lot to the city,this might take more time since they still have no possible relocation area, LTO-7 acting director Arnel Tancinco said.

In its letter dated June 19, the city, through Mayor Michael Rama, requested LTO-7 to vacate the area within 30 days from receipt.  Rama wants the space, which is located within the vicinity of Cebu City Medical Center, to be converted into a wellness complex.

Tancinco said they received the letter in July 1 and made his reply in July 10.

“Rest assured that, in the best interest of the service, our office will do its best on the speedy approval and implementation of our plans to have our own lot and building,” said Tancinco in his letter response to Rama.

Since the 30-day notice has exceeded, he met with City Administrator Lucelle Mercado on Thursday to talk about the matter.

Mercado, in an interview with reporters, said the LTO-7 management has been seriously looking for another place to transfer their office.

“They are willing to move out. Their main concern is that they still have no place to move out right away… They have to look for another place to move in,” she said.

In his two-page letter addressed to the mayor, Tancinco recalled that LTO-7 was granted “usufructuary rights” over the property supported through a memorandum of agreement entered into between the city government and the regional office as early as July 1988.

He further said that the demand letter he received from the city was the “first” following the previous ones made only verbally.

The city, in its letter, suggested for the office to transfer at the LTO - Motor Vehicle Inspection System building in Mandaue City as the “most convenient property” to accommodate its needs.

While he thanked the city for the suggestion, Tancinco said they cannot do so as the said building “is outside of the geographical areas of responsibility of our Cebu City District Office and Cebu City Licensing Center per Memorandum No. 83M-DIR-182 from our director.”

“It may not be wrong to emphasize the vital functions performed or to be performed by Cebu City District Office and Cebu City Licensing Center to your constituents in the city,” the LTO-7 director added in his letter to the mayor.

Tancinco said they have sought for the help of the Regional Development Council-7 regarding their office’s needs.

“The said council has already included in its list of Priority Programs, Activities and Projects (PAPs) for inclusion in the FY (fiscal year) 2016 Budget Proposal of the Department of Transportation and Communications, where our office belongs,” Tancinco said. (FREEMAN)