The Negros Occidental provincial government formally turned over to the Land Transportation Office-Western Visayas (LTO-6) the PHP33-million Bacolod City District Office building in Barangay Mansilingan on Tuesday.

The new structure was built by the province on its one-hectare lot located east of this city after it took back the prime property along Cottage Road, which has been occupied by the local LTO office for more than 30 years.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who led the inauguration and turnover rites, said the considerable increase in the volume of transactions in the LTO’s previous office location has already become overwhelming and needed to be addressed.

“This bigger area and office building will certainly facilitate the flow of transactions and will result to a more efficient delivery of services,” he added.

Lacson noted the delivery of services through public infrastructure is among the important functions of government and a key to how citizens perceive its role and effectiveness.

“It is for this reason that the provincial government donated this one-hectare property and this new building to the LTO,” he said.

Lacson, who unveiled the province’s donation marker together with Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, said the transfer of the LTO office is also a response to the growth of the province and the city and is seen to spur further development in the surrounding areas, which reinforces the wisdom behind the donation.

The governor turned over the symbolic key to the new LTO Bacolod City District Office to LTO-6 Regional Director Eric Lenard Tabaldo, in the presence of Transportation Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor and LTO Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo Tugade.

“I’d like to reiterate our expression of sincerest gratitude to the provincial government headed by Governor Bong Lacson. Thank you for donating the property on which this beautiful LTO office sits,” Tugade said.

He also acknowledged the funding assistance of Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano in the establishment of the Drivers’ Education Center situated adjacent to the LTO Bacolod City District Office, which is headed by Chief Transportation Regulation Officer Renato Novero.

“Through the Drivers’ Education Center we commit to provide free and continuous theoretical driving courses in the hopes of alleviating the financial burden of having to secure a driver’s license,” he added.

Tugade also said he hopes the LTO Bacolod City District Office “will be known as an office that registers only roadworthy motor vehicles and issue driver’s licenses only to qualified, responsible and disciplined drivers”. (PNA)