Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to release vehicle plates within 72 hours after they are turned over to their owners.
The newly-installed Dizon initially set his sights on addressing the LTO’s backlog in delivering motorcycle plates.
“As far as motorcycles are concerned, I think it [backlog] began in 2014. To this day, they [owners] have not yet received their plates. That sounds bleak… it’s 2025 already,” the transportation secretary said in Filipino.
“Moving forward, can we make sure this won’t happen again? They should get their plates almost immediately. [For] Both motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles… We will post that challenge and we will see if the LTO can deliver,” added Dizon.
He vowed to set a deadline for the LTO to achieve this goal because, “if there is no deadline, it’s natural for the people at LTO to remain relaxed… when they are not under pressure.”
Meanwhile, Dizon said he is open to the possibility of extending the operating hours of the major train lines in Metro Manila such as the Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems, as well as the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3.
He vowed to speak with the different train management and maintenance teams about this soon, adding that he also plans to commute using the rail lines for himself just like he did in the Edsa Bus Carousel.
“We need to demand longer hours. Of course, the issue is going to be maintenance so I’m going to have to talk to the one who’s maintaining this and see what’s wrong,” he said.
The LRT 1 and 2, as well as the MRT-3, have their last trips at around 9 pm to 10 pm but operating hours are traditionally extended during the holiday season.
As this developed, a ranking DOTr official said they are mulling the suspension of route rationalization pending fresh policy guidance from Dizon.
On Wednesday, Transportation Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Jesus Ferdinand Ortega said the department may put the program on hold until the new secretary clarifies his vision for the agency.
He was referring to a stage in the contentious Public Transport Modernization Program in which the government studies the routes that are still necessary and determines the number of units needed to meet passenger demand.
Ortega, however, pointed out that some 86 percent of jeepneys had already consolidated.
Transport groups Manibela and Piston have opposed the modernization program citing the hefty cost of new units, which is out of reach for many operators and drivers.