With the LTO in a mess right now, Sen. Grace Poe did not mince her words when she called out the agency for its “chaotic” Digitalization Program in a press statement. This is following the many issues that the LTO is facing including the resignation of then-chief Jose Arturo Tugade and the shortage of license plates and license cards.

“Years in implementation and billions of money spent later, the Land Transportation Office’s digitalization initiative leaves much to be desired,” Poe said. “These show the agency’s digitalization plan is chaotic. Kumbaga sa computer software, nasa beta phase pa rin. Puro testing, hindi na umusad sa final implementation.”

The computer software Poe is referring to is the LTMS Portal, which has limited use and is plagued with problems that discourage people from doing their transactions through the portal. The LTMS is part of the initialization program of the LTO, yet it remains to be underutilized.

Aside from calling out LTO’s chaotic progress, Poe also questioned LTO officials about its Php 3.19 billion Road Information Technology Infrastructure Project, a 2021 Commission on Audit report has found that LTO has made “undue” and “unjust” payments to firms that allegedly failed to deliver the project.

With all the problems that are piling up with LTO, Poe challenges the government agency to speed up its digitalization program to make transactions easier and more convenient for everyone so that it can get back on track in delivering fast and efficient public service.