THE Marcos administration began its term with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) still struggling with the problem of lack of basic documents and items for the public, such as plastic driver’s licenses and vehicle license plates.
A controversy on how best to procure the materials for driver’s licenses resulted in a feud between the secretary of transportation and the LTO chief then. After a change in the agency’s leadership and some tweaking in its purchasing procedures, the LTO has somehow solved the problems involving driver’s licenses, but sadly those about vehicle plates remain.
The latest news is that the agency moved the deadline for the prohibition against the use of improvised and temporary plates for motor vehicle owners to Dec. 31 this year.
‘Mendoza emphasized that there is no longer a backlog of license plates on four-wheel vehicles. What is left, he said, is the backlog for motorcycle plates which he said will be addressed by June next year.’
The decision was partly due to Sen. Francis Tolentino’s request that the deadline be moved, noting that it is unfair for motorists to be apprehended for having no official plates while it is the LTO’s fault that these plates were still unavailable.
LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II made the announcement on Sunday, Sept. 1, amid requests and concerns over the availability of the licensed plates, especially for motorcycles.
Mendoza emphasized that there is no longer a backlog of license plates on four-wheel vehicles. What is left, he said, is the backlog for motorcycle plates which he said will be addressed by June next year.
The prohibition should have started last Sept. 1. The prohibition is stipulated in a memorandum circular issued by the LTO for motor vehicle owners to install their license plates and the money-making modus relating to improvised and temporary plates.
The LTO chief noticed that for some reason, many car owners who already have license plates available at the car dealerships where they bought the vehicle have failed to install them.
Thousands of license plates remain unclaimed in various motor vehicle dealerships and, in a meeting last month, the car dealers said their clients are unable to claim the plates despite their repeated messages to them.
Car owners should be responsible enough to recognize that the proper use and installation of license plates is the LTO’s way of monitoring all vehicles for land use. It is also the agency’s contribution to the nationwide effort to prevent crime.
Everybody must cooperate to push these anti-crime efforts.
