Yt Framework

The Land TransportationOffice (LTO) yesterday warned all elected officials, high-ranking military andpolice officers to refrain from using commemorative plates in their vehicles asthese plates have already been banned by the office of the Department ofTransportation and Communications.

In an interview,LTO Regional Director Atty. Aminola Abaton said no less than Transportation Sec.Mar Roxas has issued a memorandum order prohibiting the use of commemorativeplates on any vehicles as this is illegal and highly irregular.

Abaton said atpresent his office through the media is conducting information campaign on theuse of the plates by governors, mayors, congressmen, high ranking police andmilitary officers before the conduct of massive crackdown on the illegal use ofthe proliferated memorial plates in the region.
“Violatorswill be penalized and fined the amount of P4,500 for failure to abide by theorder,” Abaton said.

Meanwhile, the LTO is set toconduct public consultations to all interested sectors in Region 9 for thestandardization of vehicle plates all over the country.
Abaton disclosed the schedule for the conduct ofthe public hearing are as follows; Zamboanga City is on July 17, Pagadian Citywill be on July 24 and Dipolog City July 30.

The LTO officialsaid the academe, vehicle owners, operators, local government officials,transport sectors and other stakeholders are invited to attend the publicconsultation with regards to the LTO proposal to standardize the plates toprevent unscrupulous individuals to change the plates of any vehicle, frombeing carnap and other violations.

According toAbaton, the new proposed plates will have four salient features to name a few, “1)it can’t be transferred to other vehicles because the new plates will beinstalled by LTO personnel using a new kind of bolt that when already installedcannot be removed by force as this will break.

If the bolts will be broken itmeans the vehicle plates have been tampered. 2) the plates will have a newdesign, new concept and all for hire vehicles using two numbers with one platecould be traced 3)the plates will also have the routes and franchise this isone way to know if the vehicles have franchise or colorum because there arecodes in the plate 4) the letters and numbers in the plates will be bolder andvisible.

He stressed thatunder the new set up motorcycles will have two plates at the rear and front andthere are also suggestions the numbers of the plates will also be printed onhelmets of the driver including the backrider.

Abaton said vehicle owners will notpay additional payment for the new plates.
He said the target for thestandardized plates will be on October and the implementation will be in 2013.

by: Nonong Santiago