The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has directed all motor vehicle dealers to strictly observe the five-day rule for the release of Official Receipt/Certificate of Registration (OR/CR) and the license plates to their respective clients.
The directive, which was issued in a form of memorandum to the Accredited Manufacturers, Importers, Assemblers, Dealers and Other Entities (MAIRDOEs), stemmed from various complaints received by the LTO on the delay of the release which most of the new motor vehicle owners would blame to the agency.
LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II stressed that there should be no delay in the release of the OR/CR since they are immediately available in the LTO offices once the proper processes are done.
In the case of the license plates, he said there must be no delay too since the LTO now produces one million license plates every month wherein one of the prioritires are newly-bought motor vehicles.
“We already simplified the entire process in accordance with the LTO Citizen's Charter in order to address the numerous complaints about the delay in the release of the documents and license plates,” said Assec Mendoza.
“The guideline has long been in place, the memorandum to the MAIRDOEs is just a reiteration that they must observe the fast transaction and release because it is the LTO that is taking the blame when in fact it should not,” he added.
The memorandum directed to the MAIRDOEs stated that the online submission of documentary requirements must be done in two days while the payment after approval of the new registration transaction must be done in one day.
On the other hand, the receipt of the OR, CR, plate/s and RFID should be done within three days. Immediately this, the owners must be informed of the availability of the OR/CR, RFIDs and the license plates for distribution.
Mendoza also directed all MAIRDOEs to submit a bi-monthly report to the LTO as part of the agency’s monitoring process.
He warned that appropriate fines and penalties shall be in case there would be a failure to comply with the provisions of the memorandum.
“Car dealers must release the OR/CR and the license plates within the prescribed time by the LTO. Our Regional Directors down to the District Office heads must ensure the compliance of the dealers,” said Mendoza.