Gov’t to re-impose ‘no plate, no travel’ policy

MANILA,  Philippines –The government will re-impose its “no plate, no travel” policy once the  backlogs on license plates  for motor vehicles  and  motorcycles have been addressed with the release of  new plates next month,  Transportation and Communications  Secretary  Joseph Emilio  Abaya  told a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

“We did admit that we had backlog so we loosen up the  policy on no plate , no travel.  I think that it’s still in effect because it would be irresponsible on our part to put back that policy when we (still have) backlogs,” Abaya said, responding to queries of Senate Pro Tempore Ralph  Recto during hearing of the  Senate committee on public services.

“And now we intend to re-impose that when we honestly could say that there is no more backlog as a responsible public servant.”

“However, our citizens are likewise enjoying the privilege of a very loose policy. So probably, instead of checking with their dealer again, spend some gas (to ask if their plates already available), they just enjoy the very loose policy,”  Abaya added.

Transportation Undersecretary Alfonso Tan explained that the government experienced “severe backlogs” in 2011 until the regular delivery of license plates started in October, 2012.

But Abaya expects to completely address the backlogs when the supplier complies strictly with its commitment   to deliver the plates  within 45 days.

“As of right now, we have supplied for all the four-wheel  vehicles registered as of  February, 7 2014… It means, your honor, there’s sufficient supply to cover the registration of February 7…”  he said.

But Recto cut him, saying, “ I know of  many who bought vehicles July of 2013 hanggang ngayon walang plaka pa. Mas madaling gumawa ng isang low cost na bahay kaysa kumuha ng isang plaka sa LTO (Land Transportation Office).”

(I know of  many who bought vehicles July of 2013, until now,  they have no plates. It’s easier  to build a low-cost house than get a license  plate at the LTO)

Abaya  conceded, saying it was one of the  problems that  his  department was trying to address.

Under  the law, he said,  a newly purchased  vehicle  should be registered within five days.

“Unfortunately, some dealers are not yet ready to have the vehicles registered…It takes them two to three months to have the vehicles actually registered,”  Abaya said.

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