LTO relaxes 'no registration, no travel' policy in the spirit of Christmas

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is easing the implementation of its “no registration, no travel” policy for the rest of December “in the spirit of the Yuletide season.”

In a statement Thursday, LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said he had ordered all LTO enforcers to just warn the drivers of unregistered motor vehicles. 

“Panahon ngayon ng pagdiriwang at ayaw naman natin na ang inyong LTO ay magdudulot pa ng stress sa ating mga kababayan,” said Mendoza.

(It is the holiday season and we don't want to be the source of stress for our motorists.)

“Pero gusto ko lang linawin na walang forever ang pagluluwag natin sa mga delinquent motor vehicles. Pagkatapos ng New Year celebration, balik ulit tayo sa dating paghihigpit,” he said.

(I want to clarify that this is just temporary. The strict implementation of the policy will resume after the New Year's Day celebration.)

Further, the LTO chief urged the owners of unregistered vehicles to set aside a portion of their 13th month pay and bonus for the renewal of their registration. 

He said a priority lane was set up for the renewal of their registration at all LTO offices. It will continue to operate this month. 

Around 24.7 million or 65% of the motor vehicles in the country are classified as delinquent, or those whose owners failed to renew the registration.

In November, the LTO set up additional checkpoints to call out unregistered vehicles amid the stricter implementation of the policy.—Sundy Locus/AOL, GMA Integrated News