MANILA: At least 28 motorcycle and car dealerships face fines between PHP20,000 and PHP500,000 and suspension of accreditation up to six months for defying the Land Transportation Office (LTO) guidelines to release license plates and Official Receipt/Certificate of Registration (OR/CR) on time.
Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, LTO chief, said the agency has initiated measures against the erring dealers.
‘We already have an initial list of the agents and their dealerships that were recommended for sanctions, including fines and suspension of accreditation,’ Mendoza said in a news release on Sunday.
All LTO offices must release the license plates and OR/CR to the motor vehicle dealerships within five days after all the documentary requirements are submitted.
On the other hand, motor vehicle dealers have six days to release them to their clients, for a maximum total of 11 days.
In an earlier memorandum issued to the Department of Transportation, Malacañang emphasized that all vehicle dealers must compl
y with the LTO’s prescribed processing timelines for the release of motor vehicles plates.
Included in the memorandum is the imposition of ‘the necessary penalties, such as termination of dealership, on dealers who fail to comply.’
‘Let this serve as a strong message to all agents and dealerships to do their part, their obligation to their clients. Kasama sa trabaho ninyo ay tiyakin na sumusunod kayo sa regulasyon ng LTO patungkol sa release ng plaka at (It is part of your job to make sure you comply with LTO regulations on release of license plates and) OR/CR on time,’ Mendoza said.
He urged owners of newly bought motor vehicles to immediately report to the LTO errant agents and car and motorcycle dealerships that would fail to release their license plates and OR/CR on time.
Complaints could be sent to LTO’s social media accounts and hotline 0929-2920865.
The LTO reiterated that the license plate backlog for all four-wheel motor vehicles will be wiped out by June 2025 following the production of one mil
lion license plates per month.
New motorcycles, meanwhile, will be prioritized in the distribution of license plates so as not to add to the backlog.
Source: Philippines News Agency
