by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Cagayan de Oro City (11 July) -- A 43.21% reduction in the number of apprehensions on motorists have been noted by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), region 10, during the first quarter, 2008.

"We noted there were only 4,264 apprehension cases during the first 3 months of the year, compared to 7,509 cases in the same period of 2007 which only show that the people of the region are getting more conscious of traffic safety rules and regulations," Regional Director Porcawa B. Dia of LTO-X said.

Dia said the registration transactions handled by their office during the period increased from 5,794 to 59,886 cases or 7.33% while transactions on licenses also increased from 47,584 to 51,532 cases or 8.07% and those of licenses/permits issued, from 35,603 to 36,654 cases or 2.95%.

Meanwhile, a total revenue of Php80.887 million have been collected by the LTO-X, during the period, higher by 1.67% compared to Php79.556 million collected in the same period of 2007.

"We will continue to do our best practices, particularly, the anti graft and corruption drive, the development program for our personnel and close rapport with the local and national government agencies in the region," he said.

Dia also said they will also continue instituting the 5S-Total Quality Management (TQM) tenets of good housekeeping and consultative management that serves as a key motivator for their personnel to take aggressive action in carrying out their mission to foster national unity and positive performance to increase productivity in their workplace.

On the other hand, Edith Roa, Regional Information Officer of LTO-X, said a total of 47,455 motor vehicles were registered in the region, during the quarter, up by 3.29% compared to 45,942 MV's in the first quarter of 2007.

Of this figure, renewal registrations increased from 36,583 to 39,256 MV's or 7.31% while the registration of new MV's dropped from 9,359 to 8,199 MV's or a negative 12.39%.

Particularly, the renewal registrations of "For Private Use" MV's increased from 30,662 to 32,931 MV's or 7.40% while those for new MV's of the same nature dropped from 9,183 to 8,044 MV's or a negative 12.40%.

Likewise, the renewal registration of "For Hire" MV's increased from 5,033 to 5,477 MV's or 8.82% but new registrations of the same dropped from 141 to 77 MV's or a negative 45.39%.