DOTC targets buses with improvised plates

Starting Monday, passenger buses with improvised plates, including those with "Lost Plate" markings, will be banned along the stretch of EDSA, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) said yesterday.

"No buses can operate without the regular license plates issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO)," said Arturo Valdez, DOTC undersecretary for land transportation.

He said the program will be implemented along EDSA initially as part of the DOTC’s campaign to eliminate colorum buses.

"This will help our enforcers identify the colorum buses from the legitimate ones," he said.

Under the program, dubbed "Project EDSA," the LTO will be issuing temporary plates to replace improvised ones. The temporary plates will include a sticker which costs P130 each.

DOTC and LTO enforcers will impound buses found violating the program.

Valdez added that the replacement plates would be good for two weeks during which the LTO should have processed their regular plates.

After the regular plates have been issued, bus owners should return the temporary plates to the LTO. Otherwise, they will be fined P1,500.

"Improvised plates are usually being used when the original plate gets lost or not available. Sometimes, owners of colorum buses take advantage of this," Valdez said. – Sheila Crisostomo