Anti-Red Tape Authority Director General Jeremiah Belgica (Courtesy of ARTA)
MANILA – Following the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA)’s surprise inspection at the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Taguig last month, the branch placed its District Office chief under disciplinary suspension and terminated the service of one of its security guards.
The ARTA conducted a surprise inspection on Feb. 19 after receiving a report from an applicant who had not been accommodated in the branch after being told by the security guard that it had reached its quota for the day.
In a letter dated March 1, the LTO National Capital Region (NCR) East Regional Director Benjamin Santiago III informed ARTA about the decision to place the LTO Taguig District Office chief under disciplinary suspension and terminated the services of the guard involved in the incident.
The LTO-NCR said it is already strengthening the District Offices’ services particularly the Malasakit Help Desk, Customer Service Representative, and Public Assistance Complaints Desk by deploying knowledgeable LTO personnel.
It also directed its security guards to refer customers to the help desks and “not to act as a customer service representative.”
As instructed by ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica during the Feb. 19 inspection, the LTO-NCR also distributed tarpaulins all over their District Offices to inform the public that the LTO Offices are open and are accommodating public transactions until 5 p.m.
“We cannot really pick and choose sa gobyerno kung pagsisilbihan natin ang taumbayan sa takdang oras. Ngayon sabihin natin na medyo kulang tayo sa tao, humingi ho tayo ng tulong. Kung kinakailangan ho nating mag-automate, mag-automate ho tayo (in the government if we will service people at the scheduled time. If we are undermanned, then ask for help. If needed, let’s automate)," Belgica said.
In the past few months, ARTA has been constantly reminding all government agencies and offices that implementing quota and cut-off systems and not adhering to the no-noon-break policy constitute violation under Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery law. (PR)
