It will be recalled that ARTA has seized several cases of fixers in the same office in recent months. ARTA is under the office of the President and has the mandate to remove the “red tape” from the bureaucracy so that government agencies and departments can serve and operate efficiently and truly serve the people. (MJ Olvina-Balaguer, 09053611058, konekted@dzmjonline.net and maryjaneolvina@gmail.com DZMJ Online Makabuluhang Jornalismo Your Happiness Channel)
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ARTA to file case against LTO Caloocan Division Chief for inaction on proliferating fixers
15 July 2021 – Secretary Jeremiah Belgica, Director General of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), said they will file charges against the division chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Caloocan and the barangay officials in the area.
This after another fixer in the premises fell in an entrapment operation launched by ARTA and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Thursday.
It can be recalled that a fixer, who offered to process the student permit of an undercover agent, was also arrested in the same area on 30 June 2021.
“Kami po’y magsasampa ng kaso sa mga opisyales laban diyan sa loob ng LTO, pati rin po sa opisyales ng barangay dahil doon po sa kanilang area ito nangyari ulit,” he said.
“Sinabihan na po natin sila na magtulungan para linisin ‘yung lugar na ‘yan pero mukhang naglilipana pa rin diyan,” he added.
The fixer arrested on Thursday was identified as Crisanto Dela Peña, 40, resident of Caloocan City.
According to a report, an ARTA-CIDG undercover agent, who was posing as an applicant for a student permit, was approached by Dela Peña on 14 July 2021.
The fixer offered to process the agent’s student permit application in a day for a fee of P4,000. The amount is inclusive of a medical exam and the release of the theoretical driving certificate.
This process usually takes three days as applicants still have to undergo a three-day driving seminar before being issued a student permit.
The permit normally costs P317.63. Applicants can also get the TDC certificate for free if they attend the seminar at the LTO Driver Education Center, where topics such as traffic laws, rules, and regulations will be covered.
The two agreed to carry out the transaction at around 10 a.m. Dela Peña was later arrested by elements of ARTA-CIDG.
The arrested suspect is now under the custody of CIDG and will be facing charges for violation of Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.
Belgica reiterated his call for government agencies to not tolerate fixers stationing outside their offices.
“Nanawagan na kami sa mga ahensya na magtulong-tulong linisin, kayo na po ang mag-operate, huwag na hintayin ang ARTA,” he said.
He also said that the Authority will continue to intensify their anti-fixer operations.
The ARTA chief said they will coordinate with the Caloocan City government to establish outposts and deploy mobiles in fixer-prone areas.
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Statement of Secretary Jeremiah B. Belgica on His Recommendation to Remove the Third-Party Liability (TPL) Insurance in the Vehicle Registration
14 July 2021
I recommend to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) the removal of the Third-Party Liability (TPL) Insurance as part of the vehicle registration process for vehicles already covered by a Comprehensive Automotive Insurance Policy. This procedure appeared to be redundant and inflicting additional expense to the public.
I implore them to look into it and reconsider waiving the requirement provided that the vehicle owner can show proof of comprehensive insurance.
As we seek to eliminate overregulation and unnecessary requirements, this would reduce the burden on the transacting public, streamline the vehicle registration process, and promote good regulatory principles.
This is all in line with our intensified campaign against fixers through entrapment operations.
In fact, in the course of our entrapment operations, we discovered that the establishment was also collaborating with the fixers and exploiting the public by facilitating medical, insurance, and emission testing.
In this regard, we are now cooperating with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to remind Private Emission Testing Centers (PETCs) and Motor Vehicle Emission Control Technicians (MVECTs), as well as the Insurance Commission, to avoid dealing with fixers. They should be aware that collaborating with fixers for economic and/or other benefit or advantage is a violation of Section 21 under Republic Act No. 11032, otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.
I would like to thank the DOTr for their assistance in ARTA’s anti-fixing campaign, as well as for responding quickly to our request to issue an advisory to PETCs and MVECTs about the extent of services they are allowed to provide and their strict adherence to that limitation.
On the other hand, we have already written a letter to the Insurance Commission and LTO about this issue, but have yet to receive a response.
In accordance with the terms of Republic Act No. 11032, ARTA is constantly collaborating with the PNP-CIDG and other agencies in our attempt to remove fixers in the country.
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