Cayetano warns LTO over plates

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–If the Land Transportation Office will not temporarily suspend its no plate, no travel policy, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said Tuesday he would block its 2016 budget when it is tackled in the Senate later this year.

At the same time, Cayetano filed a resolution seeking a Senate inquiry into the delays in the issuance of license plates and driver’s licenses, and the LTO’s supposed inefficiency.

He reiterated his call to the agency to impose a 30-day moratorium on the policy that prevents motorists from using their new vehicles without a license plate.

He said the LTO must first address the issues in the supply of license plates and the registration of vehicles that delay the release of plates to vehicle owners.

It would have nothing to lose if it would temporarily halt the prohibition against the no plate, no travel policy, he said.

“Threatening vehicle owners with stiff penalties for a problem the LTO created is grossly unfair and must stop. At the same time, a moratorium will allow the LTO enough time to set its house in order by fully servicing the backlog of vehicle owners and car dealers,” he said in a statement.

He also said the LTO had no excuse for its inefficiency, considering that it collected P17.6 billion in 2013, as well as P11 billion from the Road User’s Tax.

“The failure of the Department of Transportation and Communications and the LTO to do their mandated tasks is inexcusable and unacceptable, yet they have the temerity to invoke the law penalizing the victims of their inefficiency,” he said.–Leila B. Salaverria