Solon pushes for license plate makers outside NCR

CEBU, Philippines — There should be three license plate manufacturers in the country, one each in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as one of the ways to solve the massive license plates backlog in the country, this according to Senator Francis Tolentino.

“Sigurado dapat may tatlong manufacturing plants, isa sa Luzon, isa sa Mindanao at isa sa Visayas,” said Tolentino, who was the guest speaker of the second Habal-habal Drivers Summit attended by over 2,000 motorcycle-for-hire drivers in Cebu City yesterday.

This as Tolentino said that the indefinite suspension of LTO's deadline on December 31, 2024 for temporary plates is a victory for motorcycle riders.

Earlier, LTO’s issued an order that became controversial when it prohibited the use of temporary license plates beginning January 1, 2024.

In a separate statement, Tolentino said that the suspension of its December 31 deadline by LTO “until further notice” will allow the drivers to go about earning a living without the threat of being apprehended and fined.

“The indefinite suspension is clearly a victory for millions of motorcycle riders. But deferring the memorandum is not enough. The LTO must be definite about its pronouncements on when it could finally resolve its backlog. It's a disservice to keep the public always guessing, and to keep setting unrealistic deadlines for motorists' compliance, when the agency itself cannot meet its own targets," said Tolentino in a separate statement.

In his privilege speech delivered at the Senate last Tuesday, he said that an alarming backlog of 12.5 million license plates was reported by LTO in February 2024. This includes 9.1 million motorcycle plates and 3.3 million motor vehicle plates.

Tolentino said that despite efforts to implement 24-hour production shifts, the backlog persists, raising serious concerns about the LTO's operational efficiency, resource allocation, and strategic planning.

“The inability to resolve this backlog undermines public trust and confidence in our government agencies, the Department of Transportation in general and the Land Transportation Office in particular. It likewise emphasizes the glaring problem in our national transport system and highlights a pressing need for systemic reform. As we look to the future, we must hold the LTO accountable and push for effective solutions. We must advocate for increased production, streamlined processes, and better communication,” Tolentino added. — (FREEMAN)