Data-driven decision making in the LTO and other agencies

“Without big data, you are blind and deaf and in the middle of a freeway.” -Geoffrey Moore

Out of the 38 million known vehicles in the Philippines, only 14 million have been properly registered. In a statement issued by LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II, he reiterated that roughly 60 percent of the total number of vehicles nationwide are not registered. This would translate to around 37 billion pesos in lost revenue for the government. Other than the lost revenue, it would mean that there are many vehicles with no assurance of being minimally roadworthy and possibly no third-party liability insurance.

During the first few months of his office, the LTO chief has instituted a data driven management policy. His drive to obtain data from sources from internal and external sources has come up with crucial numbers and information that he has been using to institute policy reform within the agency.

In light of the aforementioned data on unregistered vehicles, the LTO will conduct a nationwide motor vehicle registration caravan to bring registration services closer to the people. The agency will coordinate with local government units, specifically barangay officials. Armed with data on the general location of the unregistered vehicles, the LTO will be able to identify key areas for the said registration caravan. With this effort, a stricter “no registration, no travel” policy can be fully implemented as there will be little reason for motorists to complain about registering their vehicles.

The LTO chief’s action is an example of a data-driven decision making policy where policies and strategies start and end with data and information. Data-driven decision making is defined as using facts and numbers to guide strategic and policy decisions that align with your goals, objectives and initiatives.

Everyday more people are using data to make everyday decisions. We check Waze for data on traffic and best routes before we drive. We check weather reports for travel and even agriculture. We use fitness apps to check how many steps we have taken and calories we have burned to help us monitor our health objectives. We use data to find the best price for goods and services. Perhaps, one day people will use data to make decisions in other aspects of life like relationships. Data-driven decision making provides consistency and a higher probability of reaching one’s goals. Clearly, basing one’s decisions on data is clearly a very logical course of action.

Data-driven decision making in government agencies will be a useful method in ensuring that services will have a higher chance of being implemented properly. As such, the fact that another head of agency, like the LTO, is using data as a core tool for policy is welcome news indeed.

What’s next for LTO? Perhaps data on people driving with expired licenses can yield another policy decision.

This is my oblique observation.

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in the foregoing article are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) or any other office under the Presidential Communications Office.