One of the many issues of motor vehicle inspection centres in the Philippines is their difficulty to connect to the online portal of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) which is the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS), according to the set rules by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and LTO.
Considering this, an international automotive tech company introduced modern equipment that is LTMS or online ready. After a quick test of a car’s vitals, the results are readily transmitted to the LTMS system where it records a pass or fails a result of the examination. A welcome sight for the government’s transportation agency.
This connectivity allows the tech company and LTO speedy resolution of a vehicle testing and drastically reduces the time needed for a motor vehicle inspection online and real-time without human intervention. Much other equipment used by other motor vehicle testing centres does not have this ability to communicate with the LTMS directly resulting in errors. The tech manufacturer has been manufacturing precision measuring equipment for OEM car manufacturers and automotive workshops worldwide for over 100-years. Along with the core competencies of wheel alignment, brake testing, test lanes and headlight testers, the company also offers tire changers, wheel balancers, A/C service equipment, tire diagnosis and lifts.
On the other hand, with the government’s continuous digitalisation efforts, applying for a driver’s licence and registering a car or paying fees in the country is now possible through online procedures. The LTO launched its new website. The portal provides fast and 24/7 access to the agency’s services via computer, tablet or smartphone.
Especially with COVID-19 and the resulting limitations on freedom of movement, the new system presents a significant benefit. After registering, users can apply for their driver’s licence, register their car or make an appointment at one of the LTO branches. Cashless payment, for all fines and fees, is also possible online. This is time and money-saving; the portal’s launch means that many fees will no longer apply.
The new online portal of LTO is combined with LTMS. It includes an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), also from a German tech firm, with face and fingerprint identification, which prevents false or double identities. The new system allows easy integration of services of other government agencies in the country.
To implement LTO’s extensive digital modernisation, the German company also built a complete state-of-the-art data centre in Manila with the capacity of more than 5 petabytes and more than 1 million transactions per day. Accordingly, LTO-Davao is also adopting the latest digital technology, this time in apprehending erring motorists, which is seen as an efficient anti-corruption tool.
LTO-Davao just unveiled a handheld device that will enable traffic enforcers to check the validity of a licence and verify the client with face recognition or fingerprints. LTO-Davao said the device will be distributed to LTO personnel and other deputised agents from different offices such as the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), Highway Patrol Group (HPG), and the Philippine National Police (PNP). Upon apprehension, enforcers will ask the driver for their licence and will scan its unique code, thus making this a convenient tool for both the violators and the enforcers as the violation can be legally settled right away.
He further added that the programme is mandated by the President, instructing all government agencies to have their payment systems online, as stated under Republic Act (RA) 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.