Are you still waiting for your new license plates? [Poll of the Week]

The backlog of license plates has been an issue that plagued the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for several years now. While the two agencies are doing their best to solve the backlog, some motorists have yet to receive the promised license plates. 

LTO needs more funds to address the backlog on license plates

Last March 2022, the LTO proudly announced that its second plate-making robot is already operational. The said machine has the capability to produce 450 motorcycle license plates per hour, according to the LTO. This means that the second plate-making robot can produce 7,200 plates per day, which translates to 158,400 plates in a month, provided that a two-shift per day basis is observed. 

LTO showed its first plate-making robot machine in 2019. Then, in 2018, the LTO received seven units of manual embossing machines as part of the contract between Trojan Computer Forms Manufacturing Corporation and JH. Tonnjes E.A.S.T. GmbH joint venture (JV). The said JV was put up to address the backlog of license plates from July 2016.

As a review, the issue of license plates first took shape in 2013 when the LTO awarded the Php 3.8-billion Car Plate Standardization Program to the Dutch-Filipino consortium Knieriem BV Goes and Power Plates Development Concept Inc.  

LTO's plate making robot

With the said facilities in place, the LTO is on the right track to address the issue on license plates, right? Well, technically yes but it still has a problem. Recently, the LTO is reportedly in need of funds to address the production backlog of license plates for both four- and two-wheeled vehicles. 

LTO officer in charge (OIC) Romeo Vera Cruz is asking Congress for Php 6.8 billion in funds to ramp up the license plate production. Vera Cruz clarified that the agency has no issue when it comes to producing license plates since it has modern plate-making machines. But Vera Cruz explained that for the agency to address the license plate backlog, the LTO needs the necessary funds. 

Vera Cruz added that the requested funds will also be allocated to buy spare parts for the LTO’s plate-making robot to ensure that it runs in tip-top shape. 

That said, are you still waiting for your license plates? Or are you one of the lucky ones that already have it installed in your car or motorcycle? Visit Philkotse.com for more of the latest automotive news and traffic updates.