LTO-7 clarifies: ‘It’s no registration, no travel not no plate, no travel’

Local

MOTORISTS in Cebu using temporary or improvised license plates will not be apprehended, as long as their vehicles are properly registered and identifiable.

The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7) clarified this on Wednesday, September 10, during the executive session with the city council.

Aden Belza, acting chief transportation regulation officer of LTO-7, told councilors that the current directive is “No registration, no travel,” and not “No plate, no travel,” as earlier reports had suggested.

“Wala tay directive kung dakpon ang motor kung naa silay temporary plate or unsa na plate that will identify the motor vehicle nga mopli sa dalan. If wala silay plate attached, then diha namo siya ma-issuehan,” Belza said

He explained that the policy is grounded in Republic Act 4136, which requires all motor vehicles to be registered before being used on public roads.

“Dili siya ingon nga if walay original plate, dakpon. No, it’s not true,” Belza added.

The clarification was made after Councilor Jun Alcover questioned the implementation of the policy, citing the absence of a clear directive from the LTO Central Office.

He said this confusion forced motorists to miss work and appointments just to line up at LTO offices, often to find their plates were not yet available.

Moreover, Belza assured that the agency observes a “no cut-off” policy, meaning all motorists who line up will be accommodated. If not processed the same day, they will be listed and contacted to claim their plates the following day.

Belza explained that Central Visayas remains one of the country’s busiest regions for motorcycle sales, which, combined with production delays in Manila and the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to plate backlogs.

“Almost every household has a motorcycle. Going back to the plates, some were sent to dealers, others were delayed in production, and the pandemic further slowed down the process. That’s why backlogs piled up,” he said.

He added that plates for motorcycles registered in 2017 and earlier are already available at LTO district offices. For registrations from 2018 onwards, plates can be claimed at either the Cebu City LTO office in Robinsons Galleria or the Subangdaku office, depending on the file number.

He explained that if the file number starts with 0701, the plates should be claimed at the LTO office in Mandaue, while those with file numbers starting with 0716 should claim their plates at the LTO office in Cebu City, located in Galleria.

Alcover urged LTO-7 to conduct an extensive information campaign reaching down to the barangays to clear up lingering confusion.

He further emphasized the need for the information drive to be brought directly to the barangays because many people still do not understand the process.(TGP)