By JOEL J. JABAL

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has opened an extension office in the bustling seaside town of Pinamalayan in Oriental Mindoro.

Just two weeks into “dry run” operation and the average daily transaction rose from 30 to 100, said LTO Pinamalayan chief Merwyn Quitain.

“Most of our transactions involved application for student drivers’ permit,” Quitain said. A student driving permit is a requirement before a regular driver’s license could be issued.

Quitain said the LTO Pinamalayan Extension Office still charges a lower fee for issuance and renewal of license and for new and renewal of vehicle registration.

“Our fees in the meantime are lower until we are connected with the computer network provider,” he said. The LTO Pinamalayan Extension Office is expected to go “online” next month.

The office will offer all other services, except issuance of license with examination, provided by other LTO offices, Quitain said.

Located along the Nautical Highway in Barangay Papandayan in Pinamalayan, the LTO Extension Office is expected to service the second district of Oriental Mindoro and nearby towns in the first district like Socorro and Pola.

Before the Pinamalayan office began operations, residents from the second district still had to go to Calapan City for their transactions at the LTO.