The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Friday denied reports that it is penalizing motor vehicle owners who have not yet claimed their official license plates and are still using improvised ones.

In a statement, the agency said there is “no such order from both the Department of Transportation and the LTO Central Office.”

The LTO also clarified that its personnel are focused on distributing all backlogged license plates, following a directive from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to clear the backlog within three months.

The agency urged vehicle owners with unclaimed original or replacement plates to get them as soon as possible, either through the LTO Tracker online platform, which offers courier services, or by visiting any LTO office nationwide.

The LTO also stated it has instructed its regional and district offices to intensify information campaigns about plate distribution to reach as many vehicle owners as possible, particularly motorcycle riders.

It also commended offices that have implemented “good practices” to speed up the process.