Malacañan reshuffles Transportation heads, former ambassador now LTO chief

LTO, OTC and LTFRB chiefs reshuffled, new LTO chief named

There’s a sudden shift in the leadership of three Department of Transportation (DOTr) attached agencies as Malacañan ordered the reshuffling of heads in the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC).

DOTr Acting Secretary, Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez, confirmed that the reshuffle was made upon the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Under the new arrangement, LTO Chief, Atty. Vigor Mendoza, who is so far the longest-serving Assistant Secretary under the Marcos administration, will assume leadership of the LTFRB. Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary Teofilo Guadiz III, who previously held the top post in the LTO and now LTFRB, will take charge of the OTC. Last but not least, Special Envoy for Transnational Crime, Markus Lacanilao, has been appointed as the new LTO chief.

Markus Lacanilao

Ambassador Markus Lacanilao currently serves as the Philippines’ Special Envoy for Transnational Crime, is now headed to the LTO. Though not previously associated with the transportation sector, Lacanilao made headlines earlier this year when he personally accompanied former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague for proceedings before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Mendoza thankful to LTO and the President

Mendoza issued a statement as he exited the LTO after more than two years of implementing policy reforms and solving seemingly impossible tasks, including the final solution to the 11-year old backlog involving more than 13 million license plates.

“I and my family express our sincerest gratitude to President Marcos for the opportunity to serve the Filipino people, for the 26 months of challenging but worthy public service as Chief of the LTO,” said Mendoza.

Perhaps the most notable achievement of Mendoza’s tenure at the LTO was resolving the agency’s 11-year license plate backlog, which had long affected motorists nationwide, more particularly, motorcycle owners. During his leadership, the LTO also implemented key reforms to improve the speed and efficiency of its services, including the adoption of digital processes for licensing, as well as enhanced tracking and delivery systems for both driver’s licenses and license plates.

Mendoza also spearheaded the LTO’s “Aksyon on the Spot” initiative, a public service program that allows citizens to immediately report erring motorists, fixers, and even lapses within the agency itself.

Mendoza also expressed gratitude to the men and women of the LTO for believing in his policy reforms, including fulfilling his promise of addressing contractualization in the LTO by pushing for reforms that led to the job security of hundreds of former contract of service personnel.