SEN. Grace Poe has asked the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to ensure that its online portal for driver’s license application and renewal is easily accessible.

“At a time when we try to avoid face-to-face transactions due to COVID-19, our people are expected to rely on online transactions as the safer, faster and more efficient means,” she said.

“Being denied access to the LTO’s online service is totally unacceptable,” she added.

Poe said reports have reached her office that a number of drivers seeking to renew license or apply for a new one are encountering difficulties in getting through the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS).

The LTMS serves as the online platform for all motoring regulatory services and processes from the LTO. This portal also caters to neophyte applicants who will apply for a driver’s license and vehicle registration for the first time.

“Government portals should be exemplars of reliability. They could not be down when people need their services,” Poe said.

Poe steered the passage of Republic Act 10930 that extended the validity of driver’s license to 10 years if the holder seeking renewal of such authority has no traffic violation. Motorists with violations will get licenses with five-year validity upon renewal.

The law, which amended the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, seeks to uphold the integrity of driver’s license examinations to ensure that only qualified motorists ply the road.

The senator said the law aims to give the public a reprieve from having to line up every three years to renew their license.

“As the law provides for an online option of processing the application, we expect that the LTO has ready infrastructure to accommodate all who will access its portal,” Poe said.

“LTO should fix the problem, or it would be doing the public a disservice and defeating the purpose of the law,” she added.

Poe said she is also counting on earlier pronouncements of the LTO that the validity of expired licenses will be extended for two months.

She said the extra time is crucial especially for those trying to renew their license, but could not get into the LTO portal.