Baguio City: Rules, guidelines, and implementation policies of the different offices under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) should be followed by all, including the agency's personnel to prevent the proliferation of 'fixers' and curb corruption. DOTr-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) regional director Glen Dumlao, in an interview Thursday, reminded employees to uphold the integrity of the office.

According to Philippines News Agency, Dumlao's reminder comes in the wake of the relief of the head of the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Baguio, who was recently caught for drunk driving. The official was relieved by DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon after the arrest went viral on social media, tarnishing the department's name. The case is now with the DOTr's investigation and division office, with the relieved officer having appeared in hearings twice to present his defense.

A career officer with over 30 years at the LTO has been designated to replace the relieved official. Dumlao, who took over as DOTr-CAR chief in April, stated that his primary directives were to ensure the efficient issuance of driver's licenses and the registration of vehicles. He emphasized that problems arise when rules are twisted, urging personnel to adhere to a straightforward path to avoid complications and special treatments that lead to issues.

Additionally, Dumlao highlighted the availability of number plates at various LTO offices. As of June 13, there are 12,133 number plates ready for pickup at the LTO-Baguio and 7,723 at the Benguet office, along with 13,820 motorcycle plates for those purchased after 2017. In Abra, there are 79 license plates available, 46 in Ifugao, 262 in Kalinga, and 182 in Mountain Province. Efforts are being made to disseminate this information through gasoline stations and barangay federation presidents to facilitate the retrieval process for vehicle owners.