The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is determined to resolve once and for all the issue of backlogs regarding the issuance of driver’s licenses and motorcycle license plates.
In a memorandum order, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo “Jay Art” Tugade said he has already instructed the different LTO Regional, District, and Extension offices to look for licensing centers and driver’s license renewal offices (DLROs) within their jurisdiction that has fully functional laser engravers and inform applicants of its location. This way, LTO Chief Tugade said backlog issues can be alleviated and inconveniencing the transacting public can be avoided.
“This can serve as a stop-gap measure for the meantime while we await the repairs of defective laser engravers to be completed. Also, informing the public which office to go for driver’s license issuance and renewal prevents confusion and further inconvenience to them,” says LTO Chief Tugade.
“We were already informed that the vital parts necessary for the repair of the laser engravers are already available at the Customs. We need to put them in one by one to the machines and evaluate them. As for the timeline, we are looking at fixing the machines by February of next year,” LTO Chief Tugade explained.
As for motorcycles, LTO Chief Tugade wishes to clarify that out of the 12 million backlogs for motorcycle license plates, 9.4 million of them will be replaced very soon with the new design, in compliance with Republic Act11 235 or the “Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act.”
The new design motorcycle license plate, as stipulated under RA 11235, is bigger, readable, and color coded, and is made of suitable and durable aluminum substrate material with reflectorized background and comes with security features.
“There are many problems that beset the agency and we cannot solve them overnight. But with good and efficient work and cooperation of everyone, we shall be able to resolve these problems soon enough to satisfy our customers,” LTO Chief Tugade said.
