The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said on Wednesday, Sept. 27, that it is fast-tracking the license plates production to address the compounding backlog for motor vehicles and motorcycles.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said they had already ordered 15.9 million metal plates through the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

The land transportation agency noted that it received around one million metal plates for embossing.

“We already have machines that will be used in the embossing of the license plates and we will start the full production this October,” Mendoza said.

He added that their machines, which include two robotic and nine semi-manual ones, could produce about 42,000 license plates daily.

Over two years to address backlogs

During the budget hearing of the DOTr in the Senate, Mendoza told Sen. JV Ejercito that accomplishing the 13 million backlog of license plates would take over two years.

“It will take over two years to finish the entire 13 million backlog but while we are doing that, we would be able to cater the current usage of plates by October this year. The goal is to release the license plate for all the newly-bought motorcycles so that they would not be included in the backlog,” the LTO chief said, citing that most license plates pileup were for motorcycles replacing their plates from old green to white.

Mendoza also assured motor vehicle owners affected by the backlogs that they have put primacy in resolving the issue.

“Naabutan na natin ang problemang yan at tinitiyak po natin sa ating mga kababayan na lulutasin natin ito sa lalong madaling panahon. This is our main priority and we have been coordinating with Secretary Bautista on this matter,” he said.

The LTO chief also committed to distributing every unclaimed license plates by the end of this year.

The land transportation agency earlier extended nearly expired driver’s licenses following a shortage in plastic card supply with no collection of penalty necessary.