LTO to finish 90% of license plates backlog by end of 2023

INQUIRER file photo / Jovic Yee

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Wednesday said that it is targeting to complete the production of at least 90 percent of car license plates by the end of 2023.

But LTO chief Teofilo Guadiz III said in a statement the LTO will use its own manufacturing plant to produce a percentage of these license plates before the end of 2022.

“Right now, we have already extended the operating hours of the LTO license plate manufacturing plant. It now operates even on Saturdays so that it can produce more replacement plates and reduce the backlog,” said Guadiz.

He added that the agency is also planning to hire a private company to ensure the completion of the remaining percentage of the license plate backlog, which LTO said total 2.3 million for vehicle replacement plates and 11.5 million for motorcycle plates.

Meanwhile, more than 300,000 pairs of replacement plates have already been completed as of October 3, five months after the LTO started production in May.

Guadiz also said that it has already requested the necessary funds to produce these plates from the Congress and the Department of Budget and Management.

“Inuna na po namin muna ‘yung back plates. For the front, the thrust of the previous administration which we are adapting now is gagamit kami ng decal (we will use decal),” said Guadiz.

“We are anticipating the passage of the new law, so sa ngayon po (for now), we will just address first the back plates, hindi muna ‘yung sa harapan (before the front plates),” he added.

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