It’s official. Weeks after the LTO announced that it will be penalizing motorists for improvised and/or temporary plates starting November 1, 2025, the agency has reversed that decision.
During a press conference, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao has announced that it will review the reasons as to why some motor vehicle owners are still yet to get their plates. The agency will sort out this issue first before enforcing the improvised and temporary plate ban.
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“Isususpinde ko (ang) VDM-2025-4674. Ito yung November 1 na no-plate i-cha-charge ’yung tao ng P5,000 na fine,” said Lacanilao. “Hindi kasalanan ng ordinaryong tao kung ang plaka niya ay hindi naibibigay sa kaniya tapos ipa-fine natin siya. Kailangan tinitignan muna natin kasi maraming factors na pwedeng kaabikat ’yan. Baka dealer ang may problema or sa LTO.”
Asec. Lacanilao also mentioned that it will be unfair to penalize motorists due to reasons beyond their control. The suspension of the ban means the LTO will plate situation to ‘ensure fairness.’ He also mentioned that this policy can greatly affect business owners who need to deliver goods as soon as possible but cannot travel due to the looming fines.
While that policy is suspended, there will still be apprehensions, said the assistant secretary. The main focus of the apprehensions will be those with pang-porma plates (as Lacanilao called it), or plates that do not adhere to the LTO’s specifications.
But aside from that, the LTO will also suspend the same-day release of Official Receipt/Certificate of Registration (OR/CR) that sees these documents released to the vehicle’s owners as soon as the dealership turns over a unit. Lacanilao acknowledged that some LTO areas suffer from downtime, causing delays in paperwork.
