Alleged fixers teeming within the premises of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) District Office in Dampas Road, Tagbilaran City turned the tables on their patrons accusing LTO personnel of being the “real fixers”.
Calling themselves “facilitators”, they describe their job as merely easing the way for clients of the LTO in the processing of their drug, medical, smoke emission and insurance requirements.
Talking to DYRD “Inyong Alagad” on condition of anonymity, a former fixer exposed LTO personnel of accepting payments “under the table” to speed up the processing and releasing of their licenses or clearances.
Due to the present strict surveillance by the LTO, fixers presently handle only specific requirements of the licensing process with LTO employees who allow the fixing scheme grabbing the lion’s share.
Fixers operating at LTO Tagbilaran needs the assistance of employees in the office providing front line services.
A caller also recalled that a favored optical clinic is the designated supplier of expensive eyeglasses of the LTO for those having eye problems.
With the intensification of the campaign against fixers, the LTO, Tagbilaran City District Office in Dampas Road has made a dent in the lucrative livelihood of assisting applicants snaking their way into a maze of procedural requirements in the LTO.
The “facilitators” are now confined to referring applicants to drug testing centers, medical clinics, insurance companies and smoke emission testing centers for a modest referral fee of P450 per applicant, according to the ex-fixer.
Their referral fee is taken out from the fees paid by the applicant and not an additional burden, according to the fixer.
“Unlike before, we do not deal directly with LTO personnel, only the insurance companies”.
The public is slowly learning the lesson on dealing with fixers as some ran off with their money before the transaction is completed.
“These unscrupulous fixers have ruined our reputations”, lamented the former fixer.
The LTO has banned the entry of known fixers in LTO offices and has sought the assistance of the police to rid their premises of persons offering assistance to applicants. (Chito M. Visarra)