Public service never waits
Through visionary strategies, Atty. Mendoza II is dismantling the barriers that once hindered the smooth flow of transportation processes, creating a landscape where convenience, safety and accessibility reign supreme.
Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II.
In bustling Metro Manila, where traffic congestion and transportation challenges have long plagued its residents, one remarkable lawyer holds public office, leading the charge to revolutionize land transportation.
Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, a visionary Land Transportation Office chief, has been at the forefront of transforming the country's transportation landscape with his innovative strategies and relentless pursuit of sustainable solutions.
Growing up in a city with seemingly inadequate transport options and inefficient land transportation processes back in the 60s, he experienced firsthand the struggles faced by drivers and commuters.
Following his admission to the Bar in 1988, he was determined to effect positive change as I-United Transport Koalisyon Partylist representative in the 14th Congress, Commissioner of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and Kilusan sa Pagbabago sa Industriya ng Transportasyon, among others. He emerged as a prominent figure and influencer in this domain, establishing himself as a thought leader with profound insights and innovative ideas.
His journey as the three-month-old LTO chief unveils a tapestry of challenges in the realm of land transportation. Through his leadership, he is weaving a new narrative to transform how an entire nation of over 110 million individuals journeys forward.
There is no buckling down on the inherited problems at the LTO. He confronts them gracefully head-on — the 2.4 million drivers' licenses backlog, 13 million motorcycle license plates, and 80,000 motor vehicle plates.
"The backlog is being addressed. It's the motorcycle that is a little bit challenging. This is an accumulation of so many years of deficiency. Now the present administration is confronted with the 13 million backlog," he said. "A production and distribution timeline had been set to finish the 13 million."
On the table, though, are plans to review LTO's own production of license plates, and if outsourcing it will be faster and cost-effective for the government.
The Quezon City Regional Trial Court's recent preliminary injunction to the government's procurement of plastic license cards, he said, is another setback.