The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has a backlog of approximately 9.1 million motorcycle license plates as of December 2023, according to the Commission on Audit’s (COA) 2023 audit report. The report highlighted delays affecting the production and release of license plates, leaving millions of motorcycles on the road without proper registration plates.
Persistent Issues and Backlog History
The COA report revealed that the backlog includes 9,115,374 motorcycle plates from 2023 and previous years. Additionally, 1,696,771 pairs of replacement plates, valued at ₱763.5 million and paid for during 2015 vehicle renewals, remain unproduced and undistributed.
LTO Executive Director Greg Pua Jr. cited historical problems as the primary cause of the delays.
“In 2014, issues with bidding processes led to lawsuits and a temporary restraining order (TRO), which were only resolved around 2018 or 2019. Another TRO followed in Manila, compounding the backlog,” Pua explained.
Despite the challenges, the LTO reported a reduction in the backlog from a previous high of 13 million plates.
Measures to Address the Backlog
The LTO assured motorists that they would not face penalties for lacking plates if they can present their sales invoice and official receipt-certificate of registration.
In August 2023, the LTO issued a memorandum instructing law enforcement not to apprehend vehicles without plates as long as proper documentation is provided.
To resolve the issue, the LTO, in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), has procured finished plates to expedite production and distribution.
“We are working on the production in our plant, alongside the efforts of the winning bidder, to meet the demand. We aim to resolve the backlog by June 2025,” Pua said.
Recommendations from COA
The COA recommended that the LTO coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to ensure the timely release of funds. This would expedite the procurement and distribution of both replacement plates and backlog motorcycle plates.
The LTO’s efforts to address the long-standing issue underscore the complexity of managing logistics and production to meet the needs of millions of motorists across the country.