JIAR Labitad, one of the many vehicle owners rushing to claim their long-overdue license plates, expressed frustration after learning that his plate was not at the LTO Subangdaku Office in Mandaue City, but was instead sent to a dealer in Bogo City.
Labitad said he lined up as early as 4 a.m. Friday, August 8, 2025, at the LTO’s New Registration Unit in Subangdaku, hoping to avoid the reported P5,000 fine for vehicles still using temporary or improvised plates.
“I was really worried after hearing the news that they’ll start apprehending violators next week. That’s why I didn’t go to work today just to process this,” he said in Cebuano.
He even brought his own chair and skipped breakfast, eager to finish early.
Labitad is among hundreds of claimants who flocked to the LTO Subangdaku Office this week following reports that the agency will begin cracking down on vehicles without official plates.
Under current guidelines, plates for vehicles registered in 2018 and later with Motor Vehicle File Numbers starting with “0701” are being released at the LTO Subangdaku Office in Mandaue City.
Meanwhile, those registered from 2014 to 2017 (MV File Numbers starting with “0716”) are being handled at the LTO Cebu City District Office at Robinsons Galleria or other nearby offices.
LTO Region 7 Director Glen Galario clarified, however, that no apprehensions will be made yet for vehicles with pending plates and that the P5,000 fine does not apply at this time.
He added that the agency appreciates the public’s response and encouraged all vehicle owners to continue claiming their plates as LTO works to clear its backlog. (CAV)