DOTC may release new plates for motor vehicles next year

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) may release the new and redesigned license plates for motor vehicles and motorcycles early next year once the P3.85-billion standardization program is threshed out.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the DOTC is resolving the issue with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the release of the new plates originally set last September.

“We have been working hard with DBM to iron out small quality differences. Hopefully, we get a solution early next year,” Abaya stressed.

The agencies are resolving a financial management issue involving the release of funds for the project that involves a five-year contract.

Last Aug. 13, DOTC spokesperson Michael Arthur Sagcal announced that brand new license plates patterned after parts of Europe and Singapore would be released in September.

This after the joint committee of the DOTC and Land Transportation Office (LTO) awarded to the joint venture of the Netherlands’ J. Knieriem B.V. Goes (JKG) and Power Plates Development Concepts Inc. the five-year contract for the project.

The license plates would feature the new alphanumeric design such as three-letter and four-number combination for motor vehicles and two-letter and five-number combination for motorcycles.

Currently, motor vehicle plates have three letters and three numbers while motorcycles have two letters and four numbers. The current license plate design and font have been in use since 1981.

The license plates would come in a black-and-white design patterned after advanced countries.

Security features of the new plates include laser-etched bar codes containing selective data inputs, reflective sheeting material with security images, and anodized bolt heads as well as screws and nuts.

JKG-Power Plates proposed to supply the motor vehicle plates for a total cost of P1.98 billion while Industrias Samart-Datatrail offered a higher amount of P2.03 billion. Both bids are lower than the ceiling price of P2.356 billion.

On the other hand, the JKG-Power Plates pegged the cost for supply of motorcycle plates at P1.196 billion while Industrias Samart-Datatrail offered a higher amount of P1.275 billion. Both bids were also lower than the ceiling price of P1.495 billion.

The JKG-Power Plates tandem priced the plates for motor vehicles at P380 per pair and P120 per plate for motorcycles while Industrias Samart-Datatrail priced motor vehicle plates at P388.05 per pair and P128 per piece for motorcycles.