The Land Transportation Office (LTO) clarified that its policy that set the guideline for the use of improvised plates is still suspended amid concerns raised by some motor vehicle owners.
In a statement, the LTO said that aside from the Memorandum Circular VDM-2024-2721 which set the guideline on the use of improvised plates for motor vehicles and motorcycles, Memorandum Circular No. VDM-2024-2722 is also suspended.
The LTO’s statement came after over a hundred motorcycle riders held a rally in the Senate against the policy.
Memorandum Circular No. VDM-2024-2722 set the guideline for the implementation and requirements for the participation in the motorcycle taxi pilot study.
Both the memoranda implementation were suspended “until further notice” based on the memorandum issued by LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II dated Nov. 27.
“In the best interest of the service and to give the motor vehicle and motorcycle dealers an ample time to have the plates distributed to the respective owners, the Memorandum dated 02 September 2024 entitled ‘Deferment of Memorandum dated 30 July 2024 re Deferment of Implementation of Memorandum Circular No. VDM-2024-2721 and Memorandum Circular No. VDM-2024-2722’ is hereby extended until further notice,” the Nov. 27 memorandum circular read.
The suspension stemmed from the concerns raised by motor vehicle owners who are seeking for more time for them to secure their respective plates.
But the LTO said the implementation of the two policies was suspended on Sept. 30 in a bid to give more time for motor vehicle owners to obtain their respective license plates.
It said the LTO even assisted the motor vehicle owners in getting their license plates through an order by Mendoza instructing all motor vehicle dealers to expedite the release of the license plates which are still under their possession.
Mendoza also directed all LTO regional and district offices to launch a program that paved the way to door-to-door and free delivery of license plates.
Mendoza earlier said that the deferment of the implementation of the two policies was in response to the request of motor vehicle owners and other stakeholders.