PTO? VTO? No, it's LTO!!!

If I were to choose an errand or a requirement to accomplish, going to government offices surely won’t be topping my list anytime soon. The questionable service, the ridiculous long lines, and several other preposterous factors are reasons that need not be explained to the public people. We’ve all been there. Whether applying for application requirements or licenses, renewing documents, hell, even changing addresses makes one frustrated with their system.

Okay, that may be too harsh on my part. After all I did get my driver’s license renewed this morning. But it didn’t came cheap. I would’ve went through their “Four Easy Steps” for renewals, which I believe really is easy, but due to time constraints and wanting everything to be accomplished quickly, I shelled out big bucks just to speed up the process. Just when I told myself that I need to tighten my belt as the holidays really left me dried out of bread. But anyway, I can attest to the improvement of the government services systems from what they used to be. Since everything is computerized nowadays, accomplishing forms and requirements seems to be cake. I got my new license card in less than an hour. But even if I don’t believe much in here, I need to be grateful to Lady Luck for letting me accomplish the seemingly impossible task of getting your card in an instant. Why? After my name was called by the attendant in the claiming window, an announcement was made by one of their guys:

“Importante lang po. Nagkaron po tayo ng problema sa ating printing machine. Pagpaumanhin nyo po na yun mga susunod na pangalang tatawagin ay ang huling makakakuha ng kanilang card. Maaari ninyo balikan ang inyong mga lisensya sa susunod na linggo, ngunit dapat personal ninyo ito kuhanin upang makaiwas sa pagdaan sa mahaba pang proseso. Kami ulet ay nagpapasyensya sa nangyaring ito. Nawa’y maunawaan nyo. Maraming salamat po.”

Sucks, right? I mean, you go all the way to this old government establishment and you don’t even get what you went there for. But why me, a South person, would go to the Manila branch of LTO to have my license renewed, why not just the renewal centers scattered in malls and commercial places? Simple, I also went there to visit my dad. Last time I saw him was before New Year and since I’m going to hit two birds with one stone, I decided to go for it. Anyway, I had the time in the morning. At least I got to see my inaanak and my, did he grow up from the last time I saw him. And her sister’s getting bigger too. (Ah, an old expression that I find stupid and yet I used it: “You’re so big,” or in Tagalog, “Anlaki mo na. Dati hanggang tuhod lang kita.” People do not shrink. At least I don’t think so).

Anyway, before this turn into a two-pager, the point I’m making is the government services systems did improve from how they operate back then. The only thing that needs a solution is the long lines one must endure in order to achieve what they want to accomplish. To those brainstorming people in the government, you’re doing a good job, so far.

I’m just happy that I got my license renewed. Yay!