(From left) Incoming OIC LTO Chief Atty. Hector Villacorta, DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista, resigned LTO Chief Atty. Jose Arturo Tugade and LTO-Executive Director Atty. Giovanni Lopez during the simple turnover ceremony at the LTO-Central Office. Photo courtesy of LTO
Villacorta is new LTO OIC
DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista has named Atty. Hector Villacorta as Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
Through a Special Order, Villacorta will take over the position vacated by LTO chief Asec. Jay Art Tugade Thursday (June 1, 2023).
“Asec. Villacorta will be the LTO OIC while waiting for permanent appointment by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” Bautista announced during the turnover at the LTO while expressing gratitude to Tugade for his accomplishments during his seven-month tenure.
Concurrently the DOTr Assistant Secretary for Communications and Commuter Affairs, Villacorta, assured the transport chief that the LTO will continue with its mandate in providing excellent service to the Filipino people by focusing on critical issues, including the issuance of driver’s licenses and vehicles plates.
“This is not just a transition but a continuation of the efforts done by the LTO all these many decades,” said Villacorta.
“We give you an institution where personalities may change, but we will carry on. With the dawn in this office, we will never forget those who helped through the night,” he added.
A former Commission on Appointments (CA) Secretary during the terms of Senate Presidents Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Vicente Sotto III, Villacorta was also the chief of staff of Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
A practicing lawyer, Villacorta was a product of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Law in 1971 and Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
Tugade’s resignation will be effective on Thursday, June 1, 2023. He announced his resignation last week, citing “differences of methods” with the DOTr.
Tugade, son of former Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, was appointed LTO chief in November 2022 following his experience in management and litigation.
