By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

In a press conference this Tuesday, July 15, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) reported the completion of the agency’s backlog of license plates, which has hounded the government since 2014.

This achievement comes on the heels of an earlier commitment made by LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza II to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in 2024, vowing to address the license plate backlog by June 2025 after the Chief Executive reaffirmed his support to the agency.

“We are elated and excited to announce that your LTO was able to comply with the commitment to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr., that there will be no backlog for both motorcycle and four-wheel vehicle plates by June 2025,” LTO Acting Assistant Secretary Greg Pua said.

“To borrow a quote from our LTO Chief, Asec Mendoza: ‘Sa Bagong Pilipinas, lahat may plaka na,’” he added.

The LTO ramped up plate production in the past two years and as of June 30 this year, the license plates produced was a total of 18,578,612 plates, which effectively solved the government’s long-standing backlog.

This figure accounts for 11,815,068 motorcycle plates and 6,763,544 (which equates to 3,381,772 pairs) motor vehicle plates.

“On the last day of June 2025, we were able to comply with our commitment by producing a total of 18,578,612 that includes both backlogs and current plate requirements,” he declared.

Pua reiterated the President’s instruction on the license plate backlog, citing this achievement was in compliance with the Chief Executive’s mandate for the agency to address this primary concern of motorists across the country.

He added that the agency is now working hard to ensure the delivery of the license plates to all motorists affected by the backlog.

LTO, CIDG apprehend 4 suspects in manufacture, sale of fake plates in Bulacan operation

Four people involved in the manufacturing and selling of fake license plates were apprehended by officials from the LTO and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) during an operation in San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

“We immediately coordinated with the CIDG to conduct an operation against these people and this resulted in their arrest and the confiscation of the fake plates,” said Pua.

Seized during the operation were the marked money, 51 pieces of fake plates, printing machines, computer units, a machine press, four cutting machines, a vinyl reflectorized Film; one hole machine, 14 pieces of trays of acrylic letters; three acrylic borders; and a cold laminate machine, with an estimated value of P400,000.

Assistant Secretary Pua said the operation is in line with President Marcos Jr.’s mandate to run after scammers and other criminal elements in the transportation sector.

The suspects are now under the custody of the CIDG and facing cases of violations of Presidential Decree 1730 and Art. 2 Sec. 31 of Republic Act No. 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines).

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