CEBU CITY, Cebu, Jan. 29 (PIA) -- The Land Transportation Office Region 7 (LTO-7) is requesting the transacting public to extend their patience in their transactions with their agency.

With the series of unfortunate events that happened in Cebu and Central Visayas brought by the recent Typhoon Odette following its continuing restoration and surge of the new Covid variant with Alert Level 3 restrictions, LTO-7 Regional Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec said that aside from the current level status imposed on the island of Cebu, a lot of their employees tested positive for COVID-19.

"Logically, it's not just shortage of personnel, who were inflicted with Covid, but due as well to Typhoon Odette that some of the LTO offices are experiencing issues with the internet connection," Caindec said.

The LTO-7 director revealed that their internet connection, even in the malls, are not running at the same bandwidths now, compared to their normal speed before plus more erratic connectivity.

LTO-7 offices were also badly hit by Typhoon Odette and major offices like Lapu-Lapu City Licensing Center in Island Central Mall, Cebu City Mega Licensing Center in SM Seaside, Mandaue City District Office in J Center Mall, and DLRO in SM City Cebu are not yet on full operational capability due to the impact of internet speed of the IT system.

This is on top of the Alert Level 3 being implemented in Cebu by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-MEID).

With Alert Level 3, only 30% of the total capacity of indoor venues is allowed, resulting in limited allowed capacity in every office under the level restriction.

Caindec reminds the public that the government has given an extension to the public for both registration and renewal of licenses.

LTO has given all Student-Driver's Permit (SP), Driver's License, and Conductor's License holders extension for those that expired in January, February, and March 2022, and will be extended until the end of March, April and May, respectively.

"All motor vehicle registrations with plates ending in '0' shall be extended until the end of January 2022 and plates ending in '1' shall be extended until the end of February 2022 without collection of surcharge and/or penalty." 

Likewise, the expiration for the Temporary Operator's Permit is also extended.

He requested the public to follow the official Facebook page so that they will be notified with the updates from the agency. (JSME/ PIA7 with reports from LTO-7)