The Land Transportation Office has opened an online portal to accommodate license renewals and car registrations to avoid direct contact and COVID-19 infections. On June 8, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said motorists can go to the LTO website to access their records without having to go to an LTO branch. This move will make the process of car registration and license procedures faster and easier. Moreover, going online can prevent clients and staff from violating physical distancing guidelines.
Prior to COVID-19, the agency was already looking to the digital system in order to eliminate corruption or under-the-table transactions, lessen physical contact, and improve services, but it is only now that the system was launched. According to the LTO, the online portal is accessible 24/7 and covers Metro Manila as well as areas of Laoag, Bayombong, Roxas, Tagbuiliran, Dumaguete, Ormoc, Butuan, Pagadian, Malaybalay, Lipa, Calapan, Naga, Tagum, Davao, General Santos, and Baguio. Cashless payments for renewals, registrations, and fines are accepted, and the site will allow applicants to set an appointment before heading to an LTO branch if they need to.
According to a statement from the LTO, "All citizens of the country need to do is to register as a client in the public portal, create an appointment at their choice of LTO office, pay their fees online for their Driver's License, car registration, motor vehicle inspection service, and even pay their fines."
While most transactions have gone online due to COVID-19, online security remains a concern for citizens. However, the LTO said that the new Land Transport Management System comes with measures to prevent fake identities. It has an Automated Biometric Identification System that scans clients' faces and fingerprints to secure identity.
"The new LTO portal is one of the key steps on our way to becoming a frontline government agency showcasing fast and efficient public service for a progressive land transport sector," said LTO chief and Transportation Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante.
Going to an LTO branch to renew your license or register a car often means dedicating an entire day to just waiting in line. LTO said the data center in Manila can do over one million transactions daily, greatly reducing the time needed to get your errands done. This will also lessen the stress of LTO employees who often had to go through piles of paperwork.
this strange new world.