Vanity plates: New revenue source

Motorists can now have their names inscribed on their vehicle license plates.

President Arroyo has ordered Assistant Secretary Roberto Lastimoso, director of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), to draft the implementing rules and regulations for car owners to apply for optional motor vehicle plates bearing their names.

The STAR obtained a copy yesterday of Memorandum Order No. 65, which Mrs. Arroyo signed last June 20.

Under MO 65, motorists can be issued personalized license plates after they have paid their car registration fees at any LTO branch nationwide.

Mariano Gui, Lastimoso’s special assistant, said MO 65 allows motorists to apply for personalized license plates even if they have been issued regular plates.

"Now it’s open to all, " he said "Everybody is welcome."

Gui said the LTO would produce the personalized license plates based on the specifications given by the motorist, who will retain his original plate number.

"You will not lose your original car plate number but it will be shown on one side of the plate with your name," he said.

Gui said the personalized license plates could cost between P10,000 and P20,000, and that the government could earn at least P100 million a year from the scheme.

"This is better that the commemorative car plates where the owner pays for P1,500 with validity of only six months to one year," he said. "Under this new scheme, you can keep your vanity plate as long as you have your car."

The issuance of personalized license plates under MO 65 conforms with Batas Pambansa Blg. 43 or the Law on Permanency of Car Plates, Gui added. – Marichu Villanueva