The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Monday, Dec. 4, ordered regional officers to provide special lanes for the registration of delinquent motor vehicle owners after 24.7 million vehicles were tagged as expired and unregistered.

“All owners who will be availing voluntary registration under this Oplan shall be given priority and all District/Extension Offices shall designate a fast lane for this purpose,” LTO chief Vigor Mendoza said in a statement.

LTO noted its “aggressive” law enforcement operations under the “no registration, no travel” policy wherein apprehended vehicles would face stiff penalties and a P10,000 fine.

“Napakalaki ng babayaran kapag nahuli ka na walang rehistro ang inyong motorsiklo at sasakyan. That is why we are reaching out to the delinquent motor vehicle owners in order for them to avoid these stiff penalties and this includes providing priority lanes for them in all our district and extension offices,” he said.

The LTO earlier set up a caravan supposed to bring LTO services, particularly the vehicle registration, closer to the people.

“We are implementing programs to reach out to our clients so that they will be encouraged to register their motor vehicles. Ayaw din namin sa LTO na dumating pa sa punto ng panghuhuli dahil sa laki ng penalties na babayaran,” Mendoza said.

He urged vehicle owners with expired registrations to partake in the agency’s programs.

“So I am appealing to all motor vehicle owners with expired registration to take advantage of these programs. These are all designed to make our services comfortable for you and at the same time ay maipakita sa inyo ang malasakit ng ating pamahalaan,” he added.