Issues in LTMS
Land Transportation Office chief Vigor Mendoza II finds himself back in the
crosshairs of Dermalog, the agency's provider for the Land Transportation
Management System.
Dermalog has aired allegations anew that Mendoza is favoring the old IT
system developed by Stradcom over the LTMS.
The LTMS is an online portal for all LTO transactions, from licensing to
vehicle registration, driver educational courses, account management, and
many more services and functions.
The allegations prompted LTO chief Mendoza to issue a press statement to
refute the re-aired allegations.
Some see Mendoza's assertion that he does not favor the old IT system over
the new LTMS as commendable.
However, in the same press statement, Mendoza expressed concerns regarding
the limitations of the LTMS.
Many find Mendoza's assertion that "the LTMS has its own limitations" as
significant, especially considering the substantial investment of over P3
billion of taxpayer money.
This raises serious questions about the efficacy and accountability
surrounding this expenditure.
Mendoza's points regarding discrepancies in fee calculations, specifically
the Motor Vehicle Users Charge (MVUC), signal a troubling reality in the
perception of some observers.
If front-line workers and district offices are indeed facing operational
challenges due to these discrepancies, this indicates systemic flaws in the
LTMS.
That the LTO fell back to relying on the old system for transactions that
the newer system cannot accommodate underscores a critical failure in the
implementation and functionality of LTMS, according to some observers.
Mendoza has proposed for the LTO to take over the LTMS, asserting that
in-house IT specialists might be more adept at managing the system.
This proposal could lead to potential cost savings, but the
assumption that the existing LTMS can be adequately enhanced by internal
resources warrants careful scrutiny.
The acknowledgment of 14 deficiencies and 166 required enhancements, as
identified by the Department of Information and Communications Technology,
also raises concerns about the technical viability and scalability of the
LTMS even under in-house management.
Meanwhile, complicating matters is the petition filed in the Supreme Court
requesting the dismantling of the joint venture agreement with Dermalog.
The gravity of the allegations, coupled with the potential claim for P300
billion in damages, reflects a crisis of confidence in both the LTMS and
its management.
People are saying this situation demands a comprehensive evaluation of
accountability, efficacy, and transparency within the partnership between
LTO and Dermalog.
While Mendoza has articulated a defense of his actions, it is imperative to
recognize the shortcomings of the LTMS highlighted in his statement.
Moving forward, fostering open dialogue about the specific performance
metrics and the measures to ensure accountability surrounding the LTMS will
be crucial for rebuilding public trust in the system and the LTO itself.
At the end of the day, the Filipino people deserve an LTO that is efficient
and transparent, meeting their needs effectively and justifying the
billions spent to fully digitalize its services and functions.