DOTr Asec. Hector Villacorta Takes Reins as New LTO OIC

MANILA: Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary for Communications and Commuter Affairs Atty. Hector Villacorta officially took office as the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Thursday, June 1.

Villacorta's post is being temporarily filled in compliance with the Special Order issued by the DOTr while President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. makes a decision regarding the appointed head of the LTO.

A brief ceremony, led by DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, was held on Wednesday, March 3,  to turn over the management of the LTO from Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo “Jay Art” Tugade, who had resigned from the office.

Villacorta previously served as the chief of staff of former Senate President Vicente III.

Villacorta is also a former secretary of the Commission on Appointments and a former administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).

Tugade said in his remarks that it is a privilege and an honor to lead the LTO. Furthermore, he expressed gratitude to the agency's staff for providing support during his more than six months in office.

Tugade also highlighted the agency's accomplishments under his supervision. These include the policies that helped reduce the expenses of Filipinos, digitalization, and other programs.

“Today, as I turnover the agency with the very capable and competent Atty. Villacorta, I turnover the agency not with dreams but with real and tangible programs, policies and accomplishments and I challenge my successor to continue and add to the many reforms that we have already started here in our agency,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Villacorta said that the projects and programs currently being implemented by the LTO will continue in order to avoid delaying the service the agency offers to the public.

“This is not really a transition. It is a continuation of the efforts done by the LTO all these many decades,” Villacorta stated.

“I know the LTO started even before there were automobiles to find out which animal should draw carts behind them and so we live in an institution where personalities may change, but we will carry on and when we see the dawn of this office, we will never forget those who helped us through the night,” he added.

Bautista thanked Tugade and former LTO Executive Director Giovanni Lopez for the improvements that they implemented in the agency.

Photo from Land Transportation Office-Philippines Facebook page

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