The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has announced a reprieve for motorists using temporary and improvised license plates, extending the deadline for their compliance from September 1 to December 31, 2024.
This decision comes in response to concerns raised by Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino, who criticized the LTO’s previous directive as “unfair and unjust” to ordinary riders and motorists. Tolentino emphasized that the public should not be held accountable for the agency’s delays in issuing official license plates.
“The motoring public cannot be faulted for the lack of supply and the delays in the issuance of official license plates. This is a responsibility that falls squarely on the LTO,” the senator said.
The senator earlier called out the LTO Region 7 office (Central Visayas), which warned that it would arrest and penalize temporary and improvised license plate users beginning this month.
It turned out that the directive is based on a nationwide memorandum from the LTO head office. Under VDM-2024-2721, “all motor vehicles and motorcycles using non-LTO issued plate number, except as authorized and specified by this Memorandum, shall be apprehended and the appropriate legal actions and penalties in accordance with existing laws and regulations shall be imposed.”
With the extension, the LTO now has until the end of the year to address the backlog of nine million license plates and inform the public about its program. Tolentino also urged the agency to assist motor vehicle and motorcycle owners in retrieving their unclaimed license plates.
Tolentino, the former MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) Chair, is the principal sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2555, which seeks to amend the controversial provisions of the ‘Doble Plaka’ Law (RA 11235) that discriminate against motorcycle riders and owners.
Voting 22-0, the Senate unanimously passed SBN 2555 last July 29, while its House counterpart has hurdled the committee level, and is expected to be calendared in plenary soon.
.jpg)
