JV Ejercito sounds alarm over license plate backlogs
February 14, 2023
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Friday
expressed concerns over backlogs in the issuance of license plates.
During the Senate Finance Committee’s hearing
on the budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached
agencies, Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Teofilo Guadiz III admitted
that the agency has yet to issue around 11.5 million license plates to motor
vehicle owners.
Ejercito, who currently sits as the vice chair
of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said criminals can exploit the
license plate backlog and conduct more aggressive operations with impunity.
“This is very important lalo na sa peace and
order at lahat. Ang pinakaimportante, malagyan kaagad ng plates as soon as
possible itong mga motorcycles. Malaki ang backlog (diyan), Ejercito said.’
“Pag wala pa yung mga plate numbers, nako,
baka gamitin ‘yan sa krimen,” he added.
Guadiz said the LTO needs around P6.8 billion
to address at least 80 percent of its license backlogs.
However, the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) only approved a budget of around P4 million for this effort,
he said.
Aiming to address 90 percent of the said
backlog by December 2023, Guadiz said the agency’s plate making plant can
shoulder up to 60 to 70 percent of the license plate backlog, while the
remainder of the backlog can be addressed through outsourcing.
Moreover, the agency will focus on the
production of rear license plates despite the enactment of Republic Act No.
11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act.
More popularly known as the “Doble Plaka Law,”
the controversial measure requires motorists to install large license plates in
front of their motorcycles to make it easier for law enforcers to identify
suspects of motorcycle-related crimes.
However, rider groups have opposed the
measure, saying that installing these license plates in front of motorcycles
will result in accidents.
“We are anticipating the passage of a new law.
So, sa ngayon po, we must address first the back plates, di muna po yung sa
harapan,” Guadiz said.
Senate Bill No. 159, which Ejercito filed as
one of his priority bills for the 19th Congress, seeks to replace the mandatory
installation of oversized license plates in front of motorcycles with a
radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanner system.
The measure also aims to reduce the penalties
stated in RA 11235 and align them with the penalties imposed on four-wheeled
vehicles.
“May RFID na tayo. May nilalagay nang RFID which
already contains the information on the license plates, the owner. Lahat ng
information doon, mapapadali na rin sa checkpoints,” Ejercito said.
