BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Land Transportation Office – EB Magalona District Office is now ready to serve clients.
Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, who pushed for its establishment in EB Magalona, LTO 6 regional director Eric Lenard Tabaldo, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Mayor Marvin Malacon yesterday led the inaugural rites along the national highway of Brgy. Tabigue, EB Magalona.
The establishment of LTO District Office in EB Magalona, will not only bring closer the government service to the 3rd district, but will also help boost the town economy and provide a lot of opportunities for its residents, Malacon said.
The 2,000 square meter lot was donated by the family of former Board Member Edgar Acuña to the municipal government of EB Magalona, while the construction of the LTO building, with a budget of P3 million, was financed by the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
On the other hand, the municipal government funded the construction of its perimeter fence, solar lights and office equipment, among others.
The economic growth in the 3rd District, according to Benitez, has been driving an increase in volume of LTO transactions that overwhelms the LTO Bacolod District Office, which currently services applicants from the district.
He added that the huge demand from the 3rd District requires the expansion of LTO operations from an extension office to a regular office.
It will be much now easier and speedier for LTO clients in the 3rd district, even the neighboring districts to transact business at the new district office, which will also decongest volume of transactions at Bacolod City, Benitez said.
RA 11749, which establishes LTO regular office in EB Magalona, was authored by Benitez in the House of Representatives and sponsored by Senator Grace Poe in the Senate during the 18th Congress. It was approved by former President Rodrigo Duterte, months before he stepped down from office on June 30.
Benitez acknowledged that it was Mayor Malacon who pushed him hard to establish the LTO District Office in EB Magalona, which was originally planned to be put up in Silay City.
Gov. Lacson said the blessing and inauguration of LTO office in EB Magalona is a welcome development for Negros Occidental, particularly the 3rd District.
It is now common knowledge that the LTO office in Bacolod City is often times overloaded and congested, teeming with people seeking land transportation services from all over the province and Bacolod City, Lacson said.
More than aiding the overloaded office in Bacolod City, this new office will bring the services of LTO closer to the constituents of northern Negros, particularly the 3rd District. Consequently, this will also boost the local economy, he added.
The provincial government is thankful to everyone who extended their laudable efforts, which made this day a reality for us, Lacson said.*
