QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) affirmed its readiness to join in the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s (ARTA) anti-fixer campaign.

Atty. Reinier Paul R. Yebra, DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs, assured that all branches of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will also participate in the said campaign.

“The Department welcomes ARTA’s assistance and will comply with your request for an intensified Anti-Fixer Campaign,” he said in a letter addressed to ARTA Secretary Jeremiah Belgica dated 12 July 2021.

“The Department of Transportation fully supports measures to improve the government agencies’ level of service delivery and accountability, and ultimately the prevention of graft and corruption,” he added.

The letter came days after Belgica wrote to the DOTr, encouraging them to coordinate with the Authority’s campaign against fixers.

This after the Authority nabbed a total of nine fixers outside different LTO branches from May to June 2021.

The ARTA chief said they can help in catching fixers within and around the premises of DOTr and its attached agencies, and in filing cases against violators of Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

Belgica also asked the DOTr to issue an advisory on the extent of services of Private Emmission Testing Centers (PETC). In his letter dated 1 July 2021, he said some enterprising individuals took advantage of PETCs and used them as an avenue to offer insurance and medical services, among others.

Yebra said the DOTr issued the said advisory the day after ARTA sent them its letter. (DOTr)