Mendoza to LTO officials: Set up fast lanes for delinquent cars

Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief, Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II, on Monday, ordered all regional directors and heads of district offices across the country to provide special lanes for the registration of delinquent motor vehicle owners as part of the measures to register around 24.7 million motor vehicles with expired registration.

Mendoza said the directive is part of the "Oplan Balik Rehistro, Be Road Ready" which was approved by Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista and was disseminated to all LTO officials through a memorandum.

"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," Mendoza said in a memorandum he signed.

There are around 24.7 million motor vehicles, mostly motorcycles, which are classified as delinquent motor vehicles. This classification covers motor vehicles with expired registration for at least one year.

The figure represents around 65 percent of all the vehicles in the country.

The LTO is currently conducting aggressive law enforcement operations through the "No Registration, No Travel" policy wherein apprehended motor vehicles with expired licenses are sanctioned with stiff penalties that include a P10,000 fine.

Hundreds of motor vehicles were already impounded as a result of the nationwide operations.

"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," Mendoza said.

Aside from this program, Mendoza earlier ordered the conduct of the "One Stop Shop/Service Caravan/Outreach Program" which is meant to bring the LTO offices, particularly the registration of delinquent motor vehicles, 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," said Mendoza.

"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.