LTO to produce 300K license plates monthly to address backlog

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Thursday said that starting this April, it could now produce up to 300,000 license plates every month with its acquisition of seven embossing machines to address the backlog of vehicle license plates.

"Dito sa simula, meron tayong seven embossing machines at sa pangkalahatan, makakapag-produce ng around 11,400 na [plates]. Sa bawat buwan na nagtatrabaho 'yung pitong makina, makakabuo tayo ng mga 297,000," LTO chief Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante said in an Unang Balita interview.

"Kaya 'yung kabuuan ng backlog for 2016, July 1 up to the present, matatapos 'to around 10 to 12 months," he added.

The LTO said it is planning to buy the embossing machines after the end of the contract of its supplier.

'Yung una, may budget 'yan na almost a billion at may nanalong supplier. But at the end of the contract, bibilhin namin 'yung makina and then on, LTO na ang magmamanufacture using our personnel," he said.

Galvante said that after the production, the plates will be delivered to the LTO offices around the country, to be distributed to its owners.

"Pagka-produce ng plaka, ipapadala 'yan sa region kung saan nakarehistro 'yung mga nasa listahan namin at mula sa region, idi-distribute 'yan. Ipapaalam 'yan sa mga may hawak ng numero para sila'y makapunta," the LTO chief said.

Galvante reiterated that the new license plates will have added features, including a radio-frequency identification (RFID) sticker embedded to it.

He said the agency has almost addressed the backlog of license plates.

"Actually halos wala na tayong backlog sa lisensya eh, maliban du'n sa may problema sa internet connection, lahat makakapag-issue na ng five-year license card at nagpapatuloy na ito," Galvante said.

He said LTO offices will be open as well on Saturdays for those who want to renew their driver's license. — Jamil Santos/MDM, GMA News