LTO prints car registration on bond paper

MANILA, Philippines —  The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has resorted to issuing certificates of registration printed on plain bond paper as the National Printing Office (NPO) missed its security paper delivery.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza said they have yet to receive the delivery from the government supplier following delays.

“We ran out of security paper. Waiting for delivery from our government supplier. It is already delayed,” Mendoza told The STAR.

The NPO has committed to delivering the needed supply this week, he noted.

A potential shortage of security paper was addressed by the LTO in August when it released guidelines on the use of temporary certificates of registration.

The agency ordered its offices to print temporary registration certificates using A4 bond paper if there is a shortage of security paper.

The temporary certificates will be considered “valid for all legal purposes” until it is replaced and printed on security paper.

Motorists will have to present the official receipt and submit the original copy of the temporary document before the official registration certificate, printed on security paper, will be issued.

Mendoza said LTO offices should notify concerned owners and dealers about the availability of the replacement certificate.

Sought for comment, NPO director Carlo Taparan said the first batch of registration certificates will be delivered this week.

“We will just complete certain documentary requirements internal to NPO,” Taparan told The STAR.

Taparan clarified that the supply of security paper is an LTO matter and what the NPO supplies is the printed certificates of registration.

“The NPO does not have any information on why the LTO ran out of their security paper, or the solution to their paper problem,” he said.   – Alexis Romero