The Land Transportation Office showcases the LTO command Center as they monitor traffic situations in major roads from close circuit monitors at the LTO head office in Quezon City on June 03, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said it has monitored a 50 percent increase in the number of concerns, complaints, and reports that they receive daily from the public following the launch of their dedicated hotline number.

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“Alam naman natin na kulang na kulang ang mga tao ng LTO sa pagpapatupad ng mga batas trapiko pero sa pamamagitan nitong hotline number sana ay nakikita ho namin na marami na hong nagri-respond: a 50 percent jump in a number of concerns, complaints and reports that we received every day,” LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said in a televised briefing. 

Mendoza said that they initially launched their hotline number, 09292920865, to receive reports of violations of the President’s prohibition on the unauthorized use of "wang-wang" and blinkers by government vehicles.

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“Pero noong nalaman po natin na mayroon itong mga cyber messages, mga text messages na natatanggap ng ating publiko tungkol sa alleged mga violations ‘no, pagsisingil ng mga fines ng LTO ‘no. So ginamit na rin natin itong hotline number for all kinds of complaints ng ating citizenry," he narrated.

“Kahit anonymous we do not mind – iimbestigahan ho namin iyan. All they have to do is text us or send us a message through Viber – a picture ‘no. Kahit anonymous, kung ayaw nilang sabihin ang pangalan nila – walang problema po iyan – we will conduct our own independent investigation on the matter," Mendoza continued. 

The LTO chief said that a number of complaints that they received involved text scams allegedly using the name of the agency. 

READ: How the LTO checks if license plates are legitimate

He said the messages usually claim that the receiver has a traffic violation that he/she has to settle immediately online. 

Mendoza that they are already coordinating closely with the DICT to address these kinds of scams.