Coming soon: Cheat-proof car plates

To help the police in its all-out campaign against criminality, the Lard Transportation Office (LTO) will soon issue cheat-proof plates, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said yesterday.

Transport Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the new plates will be made using graphic designs that cannot easily be reproduced by forgers.

"It is the first of its kind in Asia. The plates are devoid of political slogans. What it will have is a graphic of our national heroes to promote our national identity and pride as Filipinos," he explained.

The new plates are multi-colored and carry a graphical design of the monument of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal at Luneta Park with the sky as backdrop. The LTO logo will also become unreadable if tampering is attempted.

LTO chief Roberto Lastimoso said the license plates being used today were designed way back in 1980.

"The current license plates have remained unchanged since being initially introduced in 1980, using reflective sheeting and aluminum substrates. But the new plates, with added security features, will be almost impossible to copy by criminals," Lastimoso said.

The use of fake plates has been part of the modus operandi of criminal elements in misleading pursuing policemen. These plates are usually installed on stolen vehicles.

Lastimoso also noted that in the past few years, license plates have become a symbol for whoever was in power.

During the time of former President Fidel Ramos, plates bore the slogan "Philippines 2000" to promote his economic vision. When former President Joseph Estrada assumed office, the plates carried his slogan "Angat Pinoy 2004."

Lastimoso said this time, President Arroyo wants to have license plates that are politically neutral. The issuance of the new plates, however, will be gradual. It will initially apply to newly-registered vehicles. — Sheila Crisostomo