MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. designated 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1 – UTAK) chairperson Vigor Mendoza II as the new head of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Malacañang announced Wednesday.
Mendoza will serve as LTO chief, with the rank of Assistant Secretary, based on the list of appointments released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on its official Facebook page.
Mendoza, a lawyer, served as a congressman representing the transportation sector under the 1-UTAK party-list group.
He also worked as a former board member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and also of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation.
Mendoza likewise headed the Philippine Delegation to the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Transport Summit in Malaysia and became a resource speaker on the Philippine Property Market in different venues abroad.
The LTO, an attached agency of the Department of Transportation, is tasked to register motor vehicles, issue driver's or conductor's licenses and permits, enforce transportation laws, rules and regulations and adjudicate apprehension cases.
Other appointments
Meantime, Marcos reappointed Philippe Lhuillier as Philippine Ambassador to Spain, with concurrent jurisdictions over the principality of Andorra.
In 2017, Lhuillier was appointed by former president Rodrigo Duterte as the Philippine Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Spain and likewise served in Portugal from 2012 to 2016 in the same capacity.
He was also the country’s ambassador to Italy from 1990 to 2010, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of San Marino and the Republic of Albania.
As a diplomat, he earned several awards and recognitions.
Before joining the diplomatic service, Lhuillier served as chairperson of the Philippines’ largest pawnshop chain, Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop.
Marcos also tapped Jesus Elpidio Atal Jr. as Director IV of the Department of Labor and Employment; Joselito Caballero as Director III of the Department of Public Works and Highways; William Quinto as Director III of the Department of Energy; Moises Tamayo as Director II of the Department of Justice; and Arturo Trinidad II as Director II of the Department of Finance. (PNA)
