New motorcycle plates out

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) started the distribution of the first batch of new and bigger motorcycle license plates in Metro Manila yesterday.

LTO National Capital Region director Clarence Guinto said that an initial 5,000 plates were turned over to dealers during simple ceremonies.

The new plates are compliant with the requirements of Republic Act 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, a law that mandates double plates for motorcycles.

A total of 70,000 plates have been received by the LTO-NCR West office and may be distributed to dealers soon.

Data from the LTO showed that the license plate backlog in Metro Manila alone has reached 1.3 million.

Of this number, some 235,562 plates will be up for production at the LTO Central Office Manufacturing Plant that will cover motorcycles registered in 2018.

The plant is able to produce 7,500 plates daily at full capacity.