Sen. Francis Tolentino (Senate PRIB Photo)

Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino on Saturday, July 29, said the Land Transportation Office (LTO) ought to cancel the certificate of registration (CR) of vehicles if the owners failed to claim the license plates to ease the distribution backlog all over the country.

Tolentino made the suggestion to LTO Chief and Transportation Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza Jr. during the senator's DZRH radio program on Saturday, July 29.

Mendoza revealed that some 1.8 million license plates remained unclaimed, 600,000 of which are in Cebu.

He also said that 14 million license plates needed to be printed, the bulk of which are plates for motorcycles even as the production of license plates has been bid out. Their delivery is expected within the next 20 months.

Mendoza said that within 2023, some one million plates will have already been delivered to the LTO. 

Tolentino asked Mendoza about how the LTO handles the proliferation of plate printing by private individuals given the available technology at present in amid the unavailability of license plates for motor vehicles.

Mendoza said they would distribute within 60 days the 1.8 million unclaimed plates, and once these unclaimed plates are distributed, he figured out there is no need for motorists to print their own license plates.

He said the LTO would disseminate the information on unclaimed plates and give owners sufficient time to claim them. 

After that, implementation of proper acquisition of license plates would be strictly implemented, he pointed out.

He further warned owners of vehicles and their agencies of penalties should license plates remain unclaimed.

According to Mendoza, almost half of the unclaimed license plates are with the dealers of motor vehicles.