DAVAO CITY (July 23) – For decades motorist and transport owners need to travel to Digos City or Davao City to process their driver’s licenses, vehicle registration, and other Land Transportation Office (LTO) transactions.
But the struggle ended on July 17, when the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region XI formally opened the LTO Bansalan Extension Office, bringing government services closer to thousands of its clients in southern Davao del Sur.
Road stakeholders and policy makers attended the occasion as it provides them comfort and it cuts the cost of processing transaction in other places.
Attorney Ernesto Rafael Robillo, LTO XI Regional Director revealed that the Bansalan extension office is the second the agency established during the last seven (7) months. The first was in Laak, Davao del Oro.
For many residents, the new office means more than convenience. It means spending less on transportation, avoiding long queues in distant offices, and having more time for work and family while completing government transactions.
Local chief executives and representatives from business sector were present during the opening an they expect that the establishment of said office will provide access and it will cut the cost of the LTO transactions.
Easier access to transport-related services is expected to improve compliance with road safety regulations while supporting business activity, tourism, and the steady movement of people and goods across the municipality.
The project became possible through the partnership between LTO Region XI and the Municipal Government of Bansalan, led by Mayor Edwin G. Reyes, together with the Sangguniang Bayan and municipal officials.
Officials from across the region gathered for the inauguration, including Officer-in-Charge Assistant Regional Director Joel T. Mandaya, Chief Administrative Division Malou P. Narca, CPA, regional division chiefs, district heads, section heads, and LTO personnel, underscoring the agency’s collective commitment to improving frontline government service.
A highlight of the ceremony was the formal charging of the personnel who will operate the new office, led by Officer-in-Charge Anjo J. Magañan, RCrim, MPA. They were reminded that every transaction carries the public’s trust and that their work must always be guided by integrity, accountability, professionalism, and transparency, in accordance with Republic Act No. 6713, Republic Act No. 11032, Civil Service laws, and existing government regulations.
Robillo said, even as the office begins its operations, LTO Region XI is already looking ahead.
The agency is hoping that the office will be serving the people in accordance to its mandate.
For the people of Bansalan, however, the significance of the new office is already clear.
It is not simply another government building. It is a promise that essential public services can be delivered where people need them most—without requiring long hours on the road.
The opening of the LTO Bansalan Extension Office reflects a simple but meaningful idea: when government moves closer to the people, public service becomes faster, more responsive, and more accessible, strengthening communities one service at a time.-Editha Z. Caduaya
