CALAMBA: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Calabarzon on Tuesday said its extension office on Alabat Island in Quezon province will reopen next week after having closed its doors for a long time due to an absence of clients. In an interview, Franz Salamat, the LTO's chief of office in Lucena City, said the recent inauguration of a driving school and a vehicle emission testing center in the island, coupled with increasing economic activity there, has made him rethink the branch's closure. The opening of new businesses in the 192-square kilometer island has given rise to expectations that the LTO will be seeing more activity there this time around, he said. "The reopening of the LTO Alabat extension office is part of the agency's broader efforts to decentralize services and make them more accessible to the public," he said. He said LTO personnel have just conducted an ocular inspection of the abandoned extension office, and have given the go-signal for the resumption of operations. He, however, decli ned to give an exact date next week when operations could resume because they are still in the process of assigning staff members who will run the extension office. Salamat said the extension office will be staffed with its own chief and personnel, who will be pulled out from other extension offices in the region and will begin reporting next week. Alabat town Mayor Ramil Arquiza will also assign some augmentation personnel that will be reassigned from their present duties with the municipality, he said. "This initiative not only streamlines the process for Alabat residents but also fosters a stronger partnership between the LTO and local government, ensuring that transportation-related concerns are addressed promptly and effectively," he added. Alabat Island comprises three towns: Perez in the northern tip, Alabat town proper in the center and Quezon in the south, with a population of 44,589 people as of a 2020 census. Source: Philippines News Agency