Tugade resigns as LTO chief

Atty. Jose Arturo Tugade has resigned from his post as the chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), citing differences of methods with the agency’s main unit, the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

In a statement released through the Presidential Communications Office on Monday, Tugade said his decision to step down from his post will allow Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to have a free hand in choosing who he can work best with.

“Even as DOTr and LTO both aim to succeed in serving the public, our methods to achieve that success differ,” Tugade said.

“I will continue to root for the LTO’s success even as a private citizen, because I will always share in Sec. Bautista’s belief that our offices can be a formidable force for good in our country,” he added.

Tugade, son of former Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, was appointed LTO chief in November 2022 following his experience in management and litigation.

Last month, the LTO reported that there will not be enough plastic driver’s license cards to meet the demand, as there are only over 140,000 available nationwide. This prompted the agency to print out the licenses on paper.

The agency also said license plates for motorcycles are expected to run out by June and those for four-wheeled vehicles by July. It has since been working on a contingency that would allow owners to temporarily issue their own license plates.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Bautista thanked Tugade for his service.

"His pursuit of service innovations at LTO benefited the public, for which this office is grateful," he said.

According to Bautista, they would submit to the Office of the President their recommendation for Tugade's replacement. —Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/KBK, GMA Integrated News