MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Jay Art Tugade on Monday announced his resignation from his post, citing differences between his office and the Department of Transportation (DOTr), its parent agency.

In a statement, Tugade said he was stepping down as LTO chief to give DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista "the free hand to choose who he can work best with."

"Even as DOTr and LTO both aim to succeed in serving the public, our methods to achieve that success differ," he said.

His resignation takes effect on June 1.

"I will continue to root for the LTO's success even as a private citizen, because I will always share in Sec. Bautista’s belief that our offices can be a formidable force for good in our country," he added.

Tugade, the son of former Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade, resigned from the LTO six months since assuming the office's leadership.

He was initially appointed as the new general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), but was moved to LTO last November.

His resignation comes as the LTO faces a shortage in plastic cards for driver's licenses. Bautista and Tugade earlier gave contradicting statements about the issue.

Currently, applicants receive driver’s licenses printed on paper.

Tugade had insisted that the DOTr’s January 2023 memorandum prevented them from procuring plastic cards but Bautista said the LTO should have taken care of the procurement process as soon as they spotted the need.

• LTO awaits procurement of plastic cards for driver's license

“Unfortunately, LTO was not able to do the early procurement… When the Bids and Awards Committee requested LTO to do the procurement and requested the TOR, they said they are not ready yet. We are hoping that we will complete the procurement by June,” Bautista said.

In a new statement on Monday, Bautista said his office was grateful for Tugade's "pursuit of service innovations at LTO."

The LTO accomplishments under Tugade's 7-month tenure include the abolishment of the periodic medical exam as a mandatory requirement, and the extended registration period for new motorcycles with engine displacements under 200 cc.

• LTO scraps periodic medical exam requirement for license holders
• LTO says new motorcycle registrations now valid for 3 years

"We will submit to the Office of the President our recommendation of an LTO Chief who can display the same fervor, while aligning efforts to the mission of this Department," the transportation chief said.

— With a report from Joyce Balancio, ABS-CBN News

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