File photo showing document inspection with a public utility vehicle (PUV) driver along the highway in Cotabato City. (Faisal Camsa, Jr./BIO)
COTABATO CITY—The Bangsamoro Land Transportation Office (BLTO) has achieved national recognition for its driver’s licenses, making them valid throughout the entire Philippines and recognized by all relevant agencies, following the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) guidelines.
Officials from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) announced on Oct. 13, that BLTO-issued licenses will now be acknowledged not only within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) but also in various areas outside the region.
This significant development aligns with DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista’s “Guidelines in the Recognition of BLTO Issuances of Driver’s Licenses, Renewal of Motor Vehicle Registration, and Miscellaneous Transactions,” issued on Sept. 19.
The achievement is the result of cooperative efforts between the Intergovernmental Relations Board (IGRB) members of the national government and the Bangsamoro government, effectively addressing the legality concerns related to BLTO-issued licenses, which previously caused inconvenience and confusion for motorists, enforcers, and other authorities.
BLTO Concurrent OIC Director I Datunor Abutazil underscored the collaborative approach between the Bangsamoro region and the central government in resolving these issues, stating, “The BARMM region is still under the umbrella of the Philippines as we need to work together on this matter”.
“After a long wait, we are confident to announce that after a series of meetings with the Intergovernmental Relations Board, all BLTO issuances, especially the driving license, will be recognized in various regions of the Philippines,” Abutazil said.
Furthermore, MOTC officials will conduct an extensive information dissemination campaign in cooperation with officers from the police’s Highway Patrol Group in provinces and cities outside the Autonomous Region. The goal is to provide clarity and understanding of this recognition.
He added the motorists who obtain licenses from the BLTO can travel across the country without any confusion or doubt.
This initiative aligns with BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim’s 5th priority under his Enhanced 12-Point Priority Agenda, which seeks to establish a robust and resilient transportation system to bolster the economic growth of BARMM’s constituents. (Johaira Sahidala/BIO)
