NATION

LTO, DAR seal ARB road safety deal

Jasper Dawang · Aug 2, 2026, 1:29 AM

DESPITE the ban on electric bikes and electric trikes imposed by the Land Transportation Office, an e-trike is seen picking up passengers along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Friday. The LTO announced that it is starting to apprehend violators to improve road safety and traffic flow on major thoroughfares. — Photograph by Analy Labor for DAILY TRIBUNE

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 1 and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Region 1 signed a memorandum of agreement to expand road safety education, driver’s licensing services and transport-related programs for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Ilocos Region.

The agreement, signed on 31 July at the Robert B. Estrella Sr. Memorial Stadium in Rosales, Pangasinan, seeks to improve farming communities’ access to government services.

The partnership covers driver education, licensing services, road safety awareness, transportation assistance and other collaborative initiatives for ARBs.

DAR Region 1 Regional director Maria Ana B. Francisco and Pangasinan Provincial Agrarian Reform Program officer II Charlotte F. Las Marias signed for DAR, while LTO Region 1 Regional Director Glorioso Daniel Z. Martinez and Assistant Regional Director Eric C. Suriben represented the LTO.

Under the agreement, the LTO will conduct seminars on traffic laws, road regulations and defensive driving, along with capability-building activities promoting responsible driving, road safety and compliance with transportation laws.

Officials said the partnership would strengthen coordination between the agencies, improve mobility opportunities for ARBs and make government services more accessible.

The initiative supports the national government’s push to expand public services and livelihood opportunities through stronger interagency cooperation while advancing the Department of Transportation’s goal of delivering more responsive transportation services.

LTO Region 1 said the agreement reflects its continuing efforts to work with other government agencies to promote road safety, enhance public service delivery and improve mobility, particularly for communities in the agricultural sector.