LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II (File photo)
MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has increased its license plate production to one million per month, aiming to address backlogs as well as reduce the wait time for new license plates.
The license plate backlog for motor vehicles has been reduced to 80,000 and will be addressed before the end of November this year, LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said Wednesday.
“We have dedicated machines that cater only to motor vehicles, and of course, focus din ang production para sa mas maraming backlog sa plaka ng motorsiklo (We are also focusing our production on the larger license plate backlog for motorcycles),” Mendoza said in a statement.
To date, the backlog for motorcycles is around 13 million, with most of it for the replacement of the old green plates to the new white ones.
“With the current production rate, we will be able to wipe out the backlog for motorcycles by early 2025. Mas marami kase ito pero (More backlog for motorcycles but) we are confident of addressing it, we are on the right track,” he said.
Mendoza said he personally inspected the plate stamping plant almost daily to ensure that there were "no hiccups" in its production.
The increased production rate, he said, aims to have new vehicle owners receive their license plates within seven to 10 days upon submission of documents.
“I have instructed all district offices, regional directors that we should be able to cater to the current demand as far as motor vehicles are concerned,” he said.
Current daily demand for motor vehicle plates, he said is 4,000 per day, including both front and back plates.
“We have that capacity, there’s no reason why a buyer who comes to you now will have to wait months in order to get their plates,” he said.
On Tuesday, Mendoza spoke during the 5th General Assembly of the Philippine Automotive Dealers Association in Taguig City and sought a dialogue with dealers to address their problems and accelerate the registration of newly purchased vehicles.
During the event, he noted that the LTO’s plate-making plant is at “95 percent full production”. (PNA)
