Councilor urges review of LTO-Demerit System pact

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

A city councilor is calling for a thorough review of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Iloilo City government and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) concerning the institutionalization of a demerit system for traffic violators.

Councilor Romel Duron stressed that the MOA should not be signed hastily, citing the lack of information dissemination about the LTO’s demerit system for drivers.

“Many are unaware of this. It’s an old law, but it wasn’t properly disseminated, and many drivers remain uninformed,” Duron said in an interview.

The MOA would allow the city government’s record of traffic apprehensions and violations to be automatically integrated into the LTO’s Land Transportation Management System (LTMS).

The LTMS is an online portal where drivers can check their violations, demerit points, and corresponding fines.

Duron raised concerns about whether traffic enforcers are adequately trained to properly identify violations and assign the correct demerit points.

“The concern also lies with enforcement. If there’s a MOA, are our traffic enforcers capable of accurately classifying and assigning points to traffic violations?” he asked.

He emphasized that city traffic enforcers might not have sufficient knowledge of traffic laws, which could result in the unjust suspension or cancellation of driver’s licenses.

Duron called for comprehensive orientation and training for traffic enforcers to ensure they fully understand the demerit system before it is implemented.

The LTO demerit system is a points-based system designed to track traffic violations and impose penalties.

Under the system, violations are categorized based on severity: light violations carry 1 demerit point, less grave violations carry 3 demerit points, and grave violations carry 5 demerit points.

Drivers who accumulate 10 to 39 points will be required to attend a 40-hour reorientation course.

Those with 40 or more demerit points will have their licenses revoked and will be prohibited from reapplying for two years.

The LTO demerit point system, introduced in 2021 alongside the 10-year validity driver’s license under Republic Act 10930, aims to promote safer roads by holding drivers accountable for repeated offenses.