LTO chief clarifies “no registration, no travel” policy

AN LTO ENFORCER flags down a pickup without a license plate on Edsa in Cubao, Quezon City, on the first day of the implementation of the agency’s “no plate, no travel” policy. Violators face up to P10,000 in fines on top of the impounding of their vehicles. LEO M. SABANGAN II

THE Land Transportation  Office  (LTO)  has never issued a “no plate, no travel” policy,” its chief  told a Senate hearing  on  Monday.

LTO chief Alfonso  Tan Jr. made this clarification when he faced the joint hearing of the Senate  blue ribbon committee  and the  public services committee inquiring  on the  alleged “inefficient regulations, undue burden inconveniences and  harassment” that the  LTO  has  imposed on the Filipino people  as well  as the alleged irregularities  it conducted concerning the procurement of motor vehicles plate.

“We have  never said  no plate no  travel, it has always been  no registration, no travel,” Tan said, responding to Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito’s question.

Ejercito said he was making the clarification because the  reported “no plate, no travel” policy has created confusion among motorists. He said there were also some individuals taking  advantage  of the  P5,000 fine  that  would be imposed on those who would travel without license plates.

“Like I said, your honor, it has always been no registration, no travel  and we discussed that also intensively last Friday, yung  tungkol sa enforcement,”  the LTO chief said.

“Sa parte naman ng LTO, kung may OR-CR hindi namin kayo titiketan kaya ang tanong ko nga kung sino yung nanghuhuli kasi kung LTO ticket ang ginamit, meron ho silang five  days to contest at kung nakita ho namin sa contest na may OR-CR, idi-dimiss ho namin yung apprehension,” he said.

Tan though said he was informed that some municipalities are considering issuing  an ordinance that would impose a “no plate, no travel.”

“We’ll try to coordinate with them and convince them but that’s beyond us,” the  LTO chief added.