(Screen capture of the 'CitiSend' mobile app)
MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is looking to tap into the eyes and ears of the public for reporting rogue drivers, other traffic-related violations, and road incidents through its new ‘CitiSend’ mobile application (app).
In a Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday, LTO officer in charge Romeo Vera Cruz said the mobile app, available on both Google Playstore and Apple App Store, allows its users to report violations of traffic laws, such as incidents of smoke-belching, reckless driving, and road rage.
“They can report to the LTO kung ano ba ang napapansin nila sa traffic situation sa kanilang lugar, lalo na sa mga violators. Just a video or picture na pwede nilang ipadala po sa command center (They can report to the LTO what they observe in a traffic situation in their area, especially violators. They may send a video or a picture to the command center),” Vera Cruz said.
He said the reports sent through the app are received and processed through the newly completed LTO Central Command Center (C3), which also investigates traffic incidents found through social media.
“Iyong mga lumalabas sa social media, inaaksyunan po agad ng LTO kasi iyong mga kababayan natin ay nagpapadala ng mga videos (The LTO quickly acts on those released through social media because our citizens are able to send videos),” Vera Cruz said.
Launched in February, the LTO C3 and the CitiSend app are meant to help increase road safety and security by providing the public with a direct line of communication to the LTO.
To date, he said, the LTO is slowly receiving an increasing amount of complaints through the C3 and is encouraging the public to help by downloading and reporting traffic violations through the CitiSend app.
“Tangkilikin ng ating mga kababayan itong CitiSend app para we can upload their videos, kung ano iyong mga nakikita nila sa lansangan para matulungan po ang ating gobyerno (The public should use the CitiSend app so we can upload their videos, what they see on the streets that would help the government),” Vera Cruz added.
Say ‘no’ to fixers
He also called on the public to help get rid of “fixers” in the LTO by refusing to patronize their service, noting that merely using their service is a “criminal liability.”
“We have our Intelligence and Investigation Division na tumitingin dito kapag mayroong complaint coming from any sa ating kababayan, inaaksiyunan po namin iyan (We have our Intelligence and Investigation Division that looks into complaints from citizens, and we take action),” Vera Cruz said.
He said the LTO is also working with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group to apprehend fixers who advertise their services online, especially through social media.
“There is no such thing as mas mabilis. Mas mabilis po sa loob ng opisina ng LTO. Huwag pong tangkilikin ang fixers kahit saan (There is no such thing as faster service. It is faster inside the LTO office. Let’s not encourage the use of fixers anywhere),” he said. (PNA)
