LTO eases ‘no registration, no travel’ policy over the holidays

INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) does not want to become the Grinch to steal Christmas from motorists and announced on Thursday that it will ease the implementation of the agency’s policy on unregistered motor vehicles during the holiday season.

“Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista approved of easing the ‘no registration, no travel policy’ when we consulted on this matter. This is the season of celebrations and we do not want the LTO to be the one giving stress to our kababayans,” LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said in a statement on Thursday.

Mendoza said he already relayed his order to all the LTO regional directors and other heads of units, including the law enforcement service, which is mainly in charge of the operation against delinquent motor vehicles or those whose owners either failed or deliberately refused to have their motor vehicles registered for more than a year.

The strict implementation of the policy will resume in January next year, Mendoza said.

Warnings

In the remaining days of December, the LTO chief ordered all officers to just give warnings to the drivers of the delinquent motor vehicles.

He advised delinquent motor vehicle owners to set aside a portion of their 13th month pay and bonus for the renewal of the registration of their vehicles.

Motorists who will apply for the first time or renew their driver’s licenses need to pay P685, excluding late renewal penalties ranging from P75 to P225.

These fees are smaller compared with the penalties if the LTO officers apprehend a motorist on the road.

For driving an unregistered vehicle, it shall be a P10,000 fine and impoundment; while driving on an expired license shall merit a P3,000 fine plus impoundment.

Those driving without a proper license will also be disqualified from acquiring a driver’s license and driving a motor vehicle for a year after the payment of the fine.

Mendoza earlier tasked LTO regional directors and district office heads to set up a priority lane for the registration of delinquent motor vehicles.

He said these priority lanes will remain open throughout December for those who already decided to renew the registration of delinquent motor vehicles.

According to the LTO data, 24.7 million, or 65 percent of the 38.3 million vehicles in the country, are considered delinquent.

This translated into revenue losses of a whopping P37.10 billion for the year.

The LTO’s eyes are hot on motorcycles, as 20.15 million motorcycles, or 81.5 percent of the total delinquent vehicles, are not registered.

Meanwhile, Mendoza lauded the LTO regional offices in Western Visayas and the National Capital Region for their aggressive implementation of the no registration, no travel policy, which resulted in more delinquent motor vehicle owners being registered.

READ: LTO to have special lanes for ‘delinquent vehicle owner’ registrations