LTO, PNP team up for better anti-crime vehicle monitoring

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is making moves to strengthen vehicle monitoring for road safety and anti-crime measures by increasing its collaborative effort with the Philippine National Police (PNP).

LTO and PNP discussing ways on how to improve vehicle monitoring [Photo: LTO]

LTO chief assistant secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II sat down with the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) director Police Brigadier General Alan Nazarro to discuss ways to interconnect the LTO and PNP monitoring system. The meeting is said to be from the directive of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista to improve the agencies’ services and keep the roads safe for all users. 

The strengthened collaboration aims to have an interconnected system that can provide 24-hour real-time monitoring of vehicles, particularly those used for criminal activities. 

LTO chief Mendoza shared that the agency’s command center has the technology for license plate identification as well as the ability to track a vehicle through the means of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).

LTO Command Center

“Medyo high-tech na tayo ng kauti kahit hindi pa naka spread out ‘yung mga cameras but we have a command center that can do a plate identification. Kunwari may hinahanap tayong plaka, tina-type lang natin ‘yung plate number then the camera will search both ways—visuals and RFID,” Mendoza said.

(Our system is now a bit high-tech even though the cameras are not yet spread out. We have a command center that can do a plate verification where the LTO can input the plate number then the camera will search both ways–visuals and RFID.)

Mendoza added that the LTO can track and identify the owner of a vehicle that has an RFID sticker. The agency has the ability to do such through the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) portal.

“Kaya ‘yung may mga RFID sticker na ‘yung sasakyan, mata-track na namin at kapag nakita ng cameras ho namin ‘yan automatic na it can lift up sa LTMS system po namin ‘yan, na-identify na agad ho ‘yung pangalan nung may-ari ng sasakyan and the text picture of the vehicle, yung location,” Mendoza shared.

(Vehicles with RFID stickers can be tracked via cameras and the LTO can get the necessary information at the LTMS portal.)

The LTMS portal can be utilized

The LTO chief also said that the agency is planning to install more cameras at the entry and exit points of tollways. Meanwhile, PNP-HPG director Nazarro believes that the interconnected system with the LTO is beneficial in solving criminal activities.

The cameras can also be of help in tracking down individuals involved in road rage incidents, which the LTO is looking to impose firmer penalties.

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