LTO consults riding public on plate standardization

Land transportation officials from Soccsksargen (Region 12) on Wednesday conducted in Kidapawan City a stakeholders’ consultation on the proposed standardization of plates of motor vehicles, a measure that was supposed to be implemented two years ago.
LTO 12 regional director, Atty. Potiwas Malambot, said the consultation was aimed at getting the pulses of their stakeholders, primarily the riding public and owners of motor vehicles.
“This primarily depends on the stakeholders. If this is acceptable to them, then, the order would be implemented early January, next year, along with the enforcement of the use of quality crash helmets,” said Malambot.
Malambot explained that under the proposal, the LTO would only issue one common and “standardized plate” to all motor vehicles.
“There will be no more commemorate plates,” he said.
At this time, he added, the LTO issues nine plates of different designs.
“If this order would be enforced early next year, we will be following international traffic standards,” he said.
The new plate, he explained, has enhanced security features.
“It has a bar code, which contains the chassis and engine number of the vehicle; and the number of the third sticker issued by the LTO” he said.
Also, the bottom portion of the standardized plates will also contain the region where the vehicle was initially registered for private vehicles, the name of agency for government vehicles, the franchised route for public utility vehicles, and the port of origin for other exempt vehicles.
This, he stressed, would help facilitate vehicle identification, prevents theft of license plates, averts illegal and indiscriminate transfer of plates, and avoids the proliferation of fake plates.
Malambot said that all motor vehicles shall be required to change their license plates with the new plate design upon the renewal of its registration and every five years, thereafter, under the standardization program.
The license plate standardization program is designed to improve the motor vehicle registration database system and enhance law enforcement.
He also stressed that only authorized LTO personnel are allowed to attach the replacement plates to the motor vehicles. [PNA]