The clamor for the establishment of a Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will remain an “impossible dream” after LTFRB Regional Director Rey Elnar bared that higher authorities of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) was not receptive to the appeals of the local transportation stakeholders.

The absence of an LTFRB office in the province has burdened those in the transport industry with documents that have to be received, processed and signed at the LTFRB Regional Office in Cebu City.

Elnar told DYRD Balita that the plan to put up an LTFRB office in the province was submitted to the DOTC five years ago but did not get favorable action due to manpower and budgetary limitations.

“We will be sending LTFRB representatives to Bohol as a temporary measure to ease the burden of the Boholanos”, according to Elnar.

Land Transportation Office (LTO) Tagbilaran Registrar Erwin Patalinghug first proposed the setting up of a satellite office after problems involving transport franchises and vehicular accident are handled by the LTO office.

“We are undermanned and the volume of registration, processing and inspection of licenses has increased”, said Patalinghug.

The series of accidents involving Southern Star buses, the investigations and legal actions under the jurisdiction of the LTFRB has revived the clamor for the setting up of an LTFRB office in Bohol. (Chito M. Visarra with reports from Allen Doydora)