Setting the record straight on commemorative plates

MANILA, Philippines – With no less than the President of the Republic condemning and subsequently shunning the use of sirens and blinkers, it comes as no surprise that the whole idea of circumventing traffic rules and regulations has become one very hot topic. Next on the target of frustrated road users – the abuse of commemorative plates.

The Philippine STAR recently sat with officials of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and even they admitted that most of those who avail of the so-called commemorative plates do so thinking that it would exempt them from apprehension by traffic enforcers.

In fact, some of the groups – in an effort to lure people into buying their commemorative plates to raise funds – claim bearers of their plates are exempt from the number coding scheme.

But unlike in the case of sirens, whose use is limited only to a select type of officials and vehicles, commemorative plates can be used practically by all types of groups provided that they secure the clearance from the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). And unlike sirens, the use of commemorative plates is completely legal.

“Commemorative plates are all fund raising projects and they do help a lot of organizations and institutions. The manufacture of commemorative plates for such purpose started during the Ramos years. There are rules to be followed and it is the responsibility of the commemorative plate manufacturers to explain the rules to those who purchase the plates,” said a commemorative plate supplier who refused to be named.

Our source speaks the truth. In fact, except for the use of expired commemorative plates and of those covering the regular registration plates, it appears that there are no other instances when the use of such plates is deemed illegal.

Newly installed LTO chief Virginia Torres said there is no restriction as to which type of groups can avail of the commemorative plates.

“All they have to do (to be permitted to issue/sell the plates) is write a letter to the DOTC Secretary,” Torres said in a recent interview.

The DOTC Secretary will then make a recommendation to the LTO chief about the approval of such request.

The group asking for the permit for such plates will have to tell the LTO how many plates it will be selling. Torres said that a group can only sell 500 to 1,000 pieces of commemorative plates.

She said there is an application fee of P1,000 to be paid by the group and P200 recording fee to be paid to the LTO for each commemorative plate issued.

Unlike in the case of regular plates, which are being issued by the LTO, such commemorative plates are being made by private companies tapped by the groups that apply permits for their own sets of plates. Many, as mentioned earlier, act irresponsibly, refusing to educate their clients. Because of this, there are some who acquire such plates and are somewhat misinformed about the limits of the commemorative plates, according to Leda Jose, head of the LTO’s Plates Section.

Jose said that these plates serve no other purpose than for decoration, as in the case of those for the celebration of anniversaries of certain government agencies and institutions and organizations.

But why does it seem that many people are lured into acquiring them? Jose bluntly said, “Because they think that bearing one would exempt them from the number coding scheme.”

This should not be the case, according to Torres and Jose.

And because there are no strict restrictions as to the use of commemorative plates, the LTO is just trying to stick to the enforcement of the simple rules pertaining to its use.

Torres reminded commemorative plates should not be made to replace the regular license plates. Commemorative plates should be placed separately from and not on top of the regular registration plates, she said.

The LTO chief also said that every set of commemorative plates is valid for a period of only one year. According to Jose, enforcers are given a list of presently valid commemorative plates with which to check whether a vehicle accosted on the road bearing one should be penalized for its unauthorized use. Commemorative plate users are urged to keep these one year validity periods in mind in order to avoid unnecessary hassle.

To set the record straight, Jose concluded that those seen replacing their regular plates with commemorative plates are just accosted and told to expose their registration plates. As for those caught bearing expired commemorative plates, a fine of P5,000 is imposed.