The Land Transportation Office (LTO) extended until Dec. 31 the deadline on the prohibition against the use of improvised and temporary plates for motor vehicle owners, from the initial Sept. 1.
But LTO chief, Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, said this extension should not be used as an excuse by motor vehicle owners, who already have license plates, not to install them.
“We ask motorists to claim and install their respective license plates as soon as they are available, either in the car dealerships and replacement plates in our offices,” Mendoza said in a statement Sept. 1, adding he already instructed the LTO regional directors and district office heads to coordinate with local government units in the distribution of license plates.
The LTO earlier issued a memorandum circular against the use of improvised and temporary plates after an initial investigation revealed that registered owners of vehicles, especially the newly-bought ones, are not claiming their license plates from car dealerships.
Thousands of license plates remain unclaimed in various motor vehicle dealerships, the LTO said, adding that in a recent meeting with car dealers, they said that their clients are unable to claim the plates despite repeated message.
Mendoza said the installation of license plates is the LTO’s contribution to crime prevention measures, especially since some vehicles are being used in criminal activities.
“Wala na pong backlog sa mga four-wheel vehicles so there is no reason for these vehicle owners not to claim and install them in their vehicles,” Mendoza said. “Ang natitira na lamang pong backlog ay mga plaka sa mga motorsiklo at ito po ay ang focus namin ngayon in compliance with the directive from President Bongbong Marcos to address all the backlog on license plates by June next year.”
The LTO, meanwhile, issued a total of 3,940 show-cause orders (SCOs) on motor vehicle dealers across the country for failure to release license plates, and Official Receipt/Certificate of Registration (OR/CR) within the 11-day prescribed time.
Mendoza II said the issuance of the SCOs is also part of efforts to prevent the stockpiling of license plates in various motor vehicle dealerships across the country.
He said that most of those issued with SCOs already submitted comments and explanations and these are now subject to investigation.
“Maging aral sana ito sa sa lahat ng car dealers na hindi nagtatapos sa pagbebenta ng mga sasakyan at motorsiklo ang kanilang obligasyon, dapat ay ibigay nila ang mga nararapat na serbisyo sa kanilang kliyente lalo na ang mga plaka at OR/CR dahil napakahalaga nito alinsunod sa mga batas at regulasyon ng ating bansa,” Mendoza said.
The penalty for failure to release license plates and LTO documents is up to P1 million, depending on the seriousness of the offense.
Mendoza urged owners of newly-bought motor vehicles to immediately report to the LTO errant agents and car and motorcycle dealerships that would fail to release their license plates and OR/CR on time.
Complaints could be sent to the LTO’s social media accounts, preferably to AksyON THE SPOT via 0929-2920865. ||
