LTO begins barangay distribution of tricycle plates

MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Wednesday began the distribution of license plates for tricycles at the barangay level in Quezon City.

This is the first time the agency has done direct-to-owner plate distributions.

"We will be doing this starting here in Quezon City and will be replicated in the coming days nationwide," LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said at the sidelines of the ceremonial turnover of QC Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) license plates at Quezon City Hall.

The program, he said, will also later be expanded to motorcycle license plates.

Some 2,915 license plates were produced and distributed, marking the end of the backlog problem for all tricycle franchise holders in the city.

"This is the first time in the history of the LTO that it distributed the license plates directly to the owners. And we express our gratitude to the Quezon City government led by Mayor [Joy] Belmonte for helping us in this objective," Mendoza said.

Clearing the license plate backlog for tricycle franchise holders in Quezon City means that tricycles without license plates are operating illegally and can now be easily apprehended, he said.

"Ang LTO na po ang bababa sa mga barangay upang i-distribute ang mga plaka ng motorsiklo, lalo na 'yung mga tricycle na ginagamit sa hanapbuhay (The LTO will come down to the barangay to distribute motorcycle plates, especially for tricycles that are being used for their livelihood)," he said.

To date, the license plate backlog for four-wheel vehicles in the country has been cleared by the LTO from having a 12 million plate backlog for both four-wheel vehicles and motorcycles in July 2022 – the start of the Marcos administration.

The license plate backlog for motorcycles will be cleared by June 2025, the LTO said. (PNA)