Tolentino to LTO: Defer Jan. 1 deadline on motorcycles' use of temporary plates

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Tuesday appealed to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to defer its implementation of the ban on motorcycles' use of temporary license plates on January 1, 2025.

Tolentino delivered a privilege speech on Tuesday afternoon after he joined hundreds of members of the Motorcycle Taxi Community Alliance (MTCA) who were asking the LTO, "Nasaan ang plaka? (Where are the plates?)"

“With less than a month to go before the LTO bans the use of temporary license plates lapses, where are the official plates? Nasaan ang plaka?” the senator asked.

“The deadline is unrealistic and unfair to riders, who will be arrested, fined, and banned from using their motorcycle beginning January 1, 2025. If the LTO cannot produce the official plates, then it should defer the deadline,” he stressed.

In July, the LTO issued a memorandum circular which provides, "The use of temporary plates, reflecting the MV File Number shall only be allowed for motorcycles purchased before 01 January 2023."

“In my inquiries, the LTO admitted that even with their plate manufacturing machines working at full capacity, the agency won't be able to meet its production backlog for license plates until July, 2025,” the solon noted.

“My appeal to the LTO is to give our riders a break. Allow them to make an honest living, especially as the holiday season approaches. Don't penalize them for a problem not of their own making, but was caused by the LTO’s own shortcomings and inefficiency,” the senator added.

The Senate has earlier passed on third and final reading Senate Bill 2555, which seeks to amend the so-called discriminatory provisions of Republic Act 11235 or the "Doble Plaka Law."

Tolentino is the principal sponsor and author of the measure.—RF, GMA Integrated News