LTO ready to distribute 1.7 million unclaimed car plates

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office is ready to distribute more than 1.7 million unclaimed license plates nationwide by next month, LTO chief Vigor Mendoza said yesterday.

He said the 60-day deadline for the distribution of license plates is for LTO officials and motor vehicle dealers.

Mendoza clarified that motorists will not be fined for unclaimed plates.

“It is actually a directive to all our regional directors, district chiefs, offices and extension offices to find the best ways to properly and efficiently distribute the unclaimed license plates within 60 days,” he said.

The LTO will implement an efficient system to streamline the distribution of these plates, according to Mendoza.

“We want to prepare our offices so that when the plates arrive, the distribution system will be in place,” he said.

Mendoza said motorists should not have to seek out fixers to process their license plates and receive other LTO services.

He wants to set up a one-stop shop that can streamline all the services of the LTO, with the help of other groups and stakeholders to hasten the release of the plates.

The LTO is looking into the reasons the plates have not been distributed or claimed.

“We are studying everything, we are auditing all the documents pertaining to it, because we have to correct it so this will not be repeated,” Mendoza said.

He inspected an LTO facility in Cebu province, where around 670,000 unclaimed plates for car owners in the province alone were still stored.