Newly-named LTO chief assumes office

Newly appointed Land Transportation Office chief Anneli Lontoc declined media interviews on her first day in office yesterday and instead conducted an intensive briefing for all department heads about LTO affairs.

Lontoc’s appointment to the LTO was effective Sept. 1 but she only turned up for formal turnover ceremonies yesterday. Her appointment ended a string of retired police or military generals in the LTO’s top post in the last few years.

Lontoc is also the first woman to be appointed LTO chief.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza hailed Lontoc’s appointment, saying that President Arroyo has made the right choice.

"She has all the extensive experiences since she has held various government positions. She’s an excellent leader and a very professional public servant, and that’s what the DOTC needs," Mendoza said in a press statement.

Mendoza held the LTO post in a concurrent capacity after the ouster of former Philippine National Police chief Roberto Lastimoso in July.

Lontoc has a master of arts in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the Philippines. She has also earned a post-graduate diploma in regional development planning and management from the Spring Center, Universitaet Dortmund in Dortmund, Germany and a post-graduate diploma on Executive Program in Management from the Netherlands International Institute for Management Science.

Prior to her appointment to the LTO, Lontoc was assistant secretary at the Office of the President. One of her "significant relevant projects" there was the "Strong Republic Nautical Highway" project of the government.

Lontoc has also held various positions at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and attended numerous trainings and seminars in management, finance and marketing both here and abroad.