Drivers slam standardization of license plates

MEMBERS of a transport group in Negros Occidental hit the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for the looming standardization of the vehicles' license plates.

The LTO is finalizing the administrative order on the standardized license plates, renewable every five years, which will be implemented in January 2013.

Jessie Ortega of Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators-Negros (STON) said these plans of the LTO will be another burden to the drivers and vehicle owners.

The new license plates, which will be issued by the government in its planned nationwide standardization program, will be harder to detach from the vehicles. The new plates will have security features, addressing the problem of fake license plates and even the non-recognition of stolen vehicles by law enforcers.

Public consultations will be held among motor vehicle owners, who will most likely shoulder the expenses for the new license plates.

Standardized plate numbers in vehicles that will be registered for the first time will have a combination of three letters and four numbers, except for motorcycles that shall have two alphanumeric symbols and five numbers.

At present, motor vehicle plate numbers show three letters and three numbers; and for motorcycles, it is a combination of two letters and four numbers.

Car plates will cost P450 while motorcycle plates will cost P120. If a vehicle owner renews the motor vehicle's registration, the old license plates shall be surrendered for replacement. The new plates shall be released not later than 45 days after registration.