The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has officially ended the 60-year struggle of Filipino vehicle owners who had to wait weeks or even months to receive their registration documents and license plates.

In partnership with the Department of Transportation (DoTr), the LTO on Friday launched the Plate Registration Management Information System (PRMIS) — a digital platform that aims to process and release Official Receipt/Certificate of Registration (OR/CR) and license plates within three days of a vehicle’s purchase. This initiative is in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to digitize all government services under the “Bagong Pilipinas” framework.

“This is what our President envisioned amid the perennial problem on vehicle registration that hounded the LTO over the years. Sa Bagong Pilipinas, ang bagong sasakyan, may plaka na agad,” said Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon.

Dizon added, “With the LTO finally solving the plate backlog in the past 11 years, we could say that this new platform is the Bagong Pilipinas way of ensuring na hindi na tayo magkaruon ng backlog sa plaka.”

While addressing the backlog of license plates over the past few months, the LTO had already been testing how fast both OR/CR and plates could be released. Less than a week after clearing the 11-year backlog, the PRMIS is now ready to serve millions of motorists.

"The pilot proved what millions had long hoped for — that the system can be fixed. That delays are not inevitable. That the government can deliver, fast,” said LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II.

“This is what President Marcos promised to the Filipino people under the Bagong Pilipinas. We have broken that cycle of burden for Filipino motorists. Starting this year, brand-new vehicles can now be registered and released plates within three days they are purchased, directly at the dealership,” he added.

End of an era of delays

Since the LTO’s creation in 1964, long delays in registration and plate issuance have been the bitter norm. Motorists bought vehicles only to wait weeks, months — sometimes more than a year — just to legally drive them. In the meantime, fixers flourished and public trust deteriorated.

“That era ends now,” said Mendoza. “This was a national embarrassment we refused to pass on to another generation. You don’t buy a car and wait months to legally drive it. That ends with us.”

The LTO’s pilot program was first launched on May 6 in Metro Manila, Region III, and Region IV-A. By July 15, it had expanded nationwide.

A permanent shift

Mendoza emphasized that the implementation of PRMIS is not a temporary project but a permanent shift in policy. “This is not a temporary project. This is now the rule,” he said.

Under the new system, no vehicle leaves a dealership without being fully registered and fitted with plates. Dealerships and LTO offices now work in tandem to process documents online, with releases done within minutes to an hour.

“Every document, every system check, every regulatory requirement — all completed before the unit rolls out of the dealership,” Mendoza added.

Behind this reform is not just innovation, he said, but "sheer political will and a demand for results."

“For years, we were told this problem was too big, too complex, too systemic. We’ve proven otherwise. This is what Bagong Pilipinas looks like: no drama, just delivery.”

Dealerships nationwide have welcomed the change, knowing that customers will now expect immediate delivery of all legal documents and plates.

“As of today, the system is live. The rules are clear. And the message is firm: If there’s no registration, no plate, there is no release of the vehicle in the dealership,” Mendoza said.

“This is not a promise. It’s already happening through PRMIS.”