MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is looking to conduct vehicle registration caravans with the help of barangay officials to address the estimated 24.7 million unregistered motor vehicles in the country.
In a statement on Wednesday, LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, said the caravan would be held across the country to bring the services of the LTO closer to the people.
“Madali nang malalaman ng ating mga opisyales ng barangay kung sino-sino at ilan sa kanilang mga constituents ang hindi rehistrado ang mga motorsiklo at mga sasakyan. Kaya tayo po ay hihingi ng tulong sa kanila (It will now be easy for barangay officials to know who and how many of their constituents have unregistered vehicles. That’s why we are asking for their help),” Mendoza said.
The caravan, he said, is meant to support the strict implementation of the LTO’s “no registration, no travel” policy.
“Sa pagsasagawa ng motor vehicle registration caravan, ipinapakita namin sa LTO na hindi lang kami puro enforcement (By doing this caravan, the LTO is showing that we’re not only about enforcement),” he said.
The caravan, he said, also aims to simplify the registration process, especially for LTO clients who have difficulty using online platforms.
“Extra effort ito sa amin sa LTO pero lahat ng magiging pagod ay worth it naman dahil ang pinag-uusapan dito ay ang pagtitiyak ng road worthiness ng mga sasakyan na siyang mandato ng inyong LTO (This is an extra effort for us at the LTO but all of our hard work will be worth it as this is about ensuring the road-worthiness of vehicles, a mandate of the LTO),” he said.
According to LTO data, about 24.7 million motor vehicles in the country are unregistered, mostly motorcycles, with expired registration that has not been renewed by their owners.
Most of these delinquent motor vehicles are located in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon regions.
In response, the LTO has intensified the implementation of the “no registration, no travel” policy that led to the apprehension of hundreds of motor vehicles.
Penalties for unregistered vehicles include fines or the possible impoundment of their vehicle. (PNA)