The Land Transportation Office with its Filipino term: Tanggapan ng Transportasyong-Lupa; LTO)

is an agency of the Philippine government under the Department of Transportation responsible for all
land transportation in the Philippines. Functions of the LTO include the inspection and registration of
motor vehicles, issuance of licenses and

of land transportation rules and regulations, and adjudication of traffic cases.

Its primary mission is to rationalize land transportation services and facilities, and effectively implement
various transportation laws, rules, and regulations. It believes that it is the responsibility of those
involved in the public service to be more vigilant in their part in the over-all development scheme of
national leadership. Hence, the promotion of safety and comfort in land travel is one of LTO's continuing
commitments. It aims to be a frontline government agency that showcases fast and efficient public
service for a progressive land transport sector.

Land Transportation Commission

During the Marcos dictatorship, Executive Order No. 546 was promulgated in 1979, creating the
Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC). The Land Transportation
Commission was renamed into Bureau of Land Transportation and was absorbed into that
ministry. The creation of the Board of Transportation and the Bureau of Land Transportation was
nullified in 1985. The E.O. established the Land Transportation Commission, which was tasked
to perform functions such as registering motor vehicles, licensing of drivers and conductors,
franchising of public utility vehicles and enforcing land transportation rules and regulations.

However, The Land Transportation Commission was abolished in 1987, and two offices were
created, namely the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising
and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). The LTO took over the functions of the former BLT while the
LTFRB took over the functions of the BOT. The MOTC was likewise renamed as the
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).[7]

Functions and mandate

License and permit issuance

The LTO is in charge of the issuance, renewal, and regulation of driver's licenses. It can issue
licenses to both citizens and foreigners provided that they meet the requirements for those
licenses. The LTO provides the non-professional driver's license, which allows holders to
operate vehicles under the restriction codes 1,2, and 4. It also provides the professional driver's
license, which allows the bearer to operate vehicles under all 8 restriction codes. The LTO also
issues student permits (SP), which are a primary requirement for both the non-professional and
professional driver's licenses. All applicants are also required to pass both a written and practical
examination to be granted their license. The application process for any license or permit may be
done at any LTO Licensing Center and District/Extension Office.
Motor vehicle registration
The LTO is responsible for the registration of motor vehicles and renewals. It can register brand
new vehicles, including locally manufactured vehicles, imported vehicles, light electric vehicles,
low speed vehicles, three wheeled vehicles, and tax exempt vehicles. Each category has an
obligatory set of requirements and procedures to follow to be fully registered. Renewals are also
obligated to submit the necessary requirements and to follow procedures to be fully renewed.
The LTO also oversees miscellaneous transactions, specifically transactions requiring change of
certificate of registration, and transactions that do not require the change of certificate of
registration.[8]

Law enforcement and adjudication of cases

One of the main functions of the LTO is to strictly implement and enforce the laws regarding
land transportation. Necessary requirements and procedures are to be followed in settlements of
admitted cases and contested cases of motor vehicles, plates, and driver's licenses. The LTO also
follows a strict procedure in settlements of impounded violations. It also allows private and for
hire motor vehicles to apply for duplicate plates.
Furthermore, the LTO is in charge of ensuring that public land transportation services abide by
the fares set by the LTFRB. It has sanctions for the overcharging and undercharging of fares, and
for non-issuance of fare tickets.[9]

Manufacturers, assemblers, importers, and dealers reporting (MAIDR)

The LTO grants accreditation to certain manufacturers, assemblers, importers, and dealers who
wish to transact business with the LTO. A firm, person, or corporation must file an application
for accreditation with Assistant Secretary of the Land Transportation Office containing certain
requirements and qualifications in order to transact business with the LTO relative to Motor
Vehicles or its components.[10] It also issues the Certificate of Stock Reported (CSR) which
certifies that a motor vehicle or its component has already been reported by its manufacturer,
assembler, or importer to MAIDRS.[11] The LTO also requires sales reports that inform the LTO
that the reported stock is already sold to the end-user. Sales reports include regular sales
transactions and stock transfers.[12] It also reports the issuance of a single CSR, of Motor Vehicles
(MVs) formed out of combining components (new, used, or previously registered) MV/MC that
are undocumented in a procedure called special reporting.[13] The LTO also maintains the
processes that facilitate requests for the approval of the MAID office with LTO related
transactions. Such transactions include the issuance of a conduction sticker, a public bidding of a
motor vehicle, and the stamping of chassis identification number.[14]
Land Transportation Office Infrastructure and Information System (LTO-IIS) Project

In 2012, the Department of Transportation and Communication and the Land Transportation Office
introduced a project entitled the Land Transportation Office Infrastructure and Information System
(LTO-IIS) which aims to utilize information and communication technology to enhance the functional
efficiency of the LTO in the delivery of its front line services to the public and the performance of its
mandate. LTO-IIS involves building an IT network for the LTO which can host and support its Front and
Back Office Applications in order to computerize and automate its processes and services, develop its
database information system, and provide interconnection between and among LTO offices nationwide.
[16]
In short, the LTO-IIS serves as an efficient means to process motor vehicle registrations, renewal and
application of drivers’ licenses and permits, back-end transactions, apprehensions, and such ancillary
transactions or processes.[17] This new LTO-IT system aimed to make accessing relevant vehicle
information easier for authorities especially for tracing stolen vehicles while addressing issues including
the involvement of third-party providers with key data such as vehicle registration. The IT system
overhaul was estimated to cost P8.2-billion. [18]

5-year Validity of Drivers’ Licenses

August 29, 2017 marked the beginning of the five-year validity of drivers' licenses cards issued by the
LTO. Applications were accepted beginning October 2016 for driver's licenses as well as renewals with
five-year validity, however, issues with the printers' contracts stalled the card printing for almost one
year resulting in a backlog of 3.6 million driver's licenses which only began to be processed September
2017.

Republic Act (RA) No. 10930 effectively amended Section 23 of Republic Act No. 4136, otherwise known
as the "Land Transportation (LTO) and Traffic Code" which was signed on August 2, 2017 by President
Rodrigo Duterte to extend the validity of the driver's license from three years to five years. According to
the law, "Except for student permits, all drivers' licenses shall be valid for five years reckoned from the
birthdate of the licensee, unless sooner revoked or suspended."

This amendment also added that holders of nonprofessional and professional driver's licenses who do
not commit violations in RA 4136 or any other traffic laws during the five-year period "shall be entitled
to a renewal of such license of 10 years, subject to the restrictions as may be imposed by the LTO." [19]

Besides the amendments to the law, new improvements to the quality and security of the license cards
were introduced. The old cards with three-year validity were made from PVC, thermally printed, and had
limited security features. The new plastic license cards are laser engraved and made of polycarbonate
material which are more durable. The new cards also includes several new security features.

Controversies

Fixers

The Land Transportation Office and their various constituent branches and offices are notorious for their
corrupt employees who engage in the malpractice of hiring and colluding with ‘fixers’ to illicitly garner
more income. Fixers litter the various branches of the LTO, offering faster and/or easier transaction and
procurement of official LTO paraphernalia at a more expensive price than the standard fee. These fixers
and their employers pocket the extra payment in exchange for placing a client higher up in the queuing
system, falsifying official government documents, fabricating driving test and written test results, and
many other illegal practices.

Section 11 of the Republic Act No. 9485 or the “Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007” lists fixing and/or collusion
with fixers as a grave offense, with the penalty being dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public
service. The fixers themselves can receive a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding six years or a fine
not less than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) but not more than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P200,000.00) or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. [21]