Extended validity of car registration too much?

CEBU, Philippines - The regional director of the Land Transportation Office-7 is apprehensive that extending the validity period of registration for brand new cars to four years may not be acceptable to vehicle owners because it would entail additional expenses.

LTO-7 director Arnel Tancinco said that paying a one-time registration for a period of four years could be too heavy for the car owners.

"Basin bug-atan na sad ang mga car owners ana kung himoon na nga four years. Kay what if ibaligya na nimo imong sakyanan within that period, mahug nga alkansi ang owner kay ang  mopalit mangwenta gyud na up to the last centavo," Tancinco said.

The amount of registration, however, depends on the type of vehicle. A brand new Toyota sendan (Vios) for example would cost the owner P7,000 to register for a validity period of three years.  

Senator Ralph Recto is proposing for a longer validity period of registration for brand new cars.    Recto, however, said that such extension may only apply to private vehicles.

"Because franchises of for-hire vehicles call for their annual inspection and registration on reasons of public safety," said Recto.

Recto explained that this will spare car owners from making an annual pilgrimage to LTO offices, contending that this yearly requirement to register is an almost 100 years old.

Recto filed Senate Bill No. 271 seeking to amend Republic Act No. 4136 and Batas Pambansa Bilang 398 to also extend the validity period of a driver's license to five years. Currently, driver's license is valid only for three years. (FREEMAN)