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First, plastic driver’s license cards, now, license plates. What next, LTO?

Manila, Philippines, April 26 – If you’ve purchased a new vehicle in the past decade, you very likely remember how long it took to receive your stamped aluminum license plates. While the wait may have taken several weeks or, in all probability, months (others have even claimed years), the assurance that you’d eventually receive your plates was guaranteed.

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That may all change in the next month or so.

Hot on the heels of announcing the shortage of plastic driver’s license cards last week, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) dropped the other shoe and warned of an impending shortage in license plates for new vehicles.

“Based on the forecast of the LTO, license plates will run out for motorcycles by June, and by July, the license plates for motor vehicles will be depleted as well,” LTO chief Atty. Jose Arturo “Jay Art” Tugade (below), said. Tugade is the youngest son of former Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade.

“For motorcycles and for the four-wheeled vehicles, we are working on a contingency that we have now. One of the contingencies that we have in place is to allow the temporary issuances of motor vehicle plates and motorcycle plates by the owner. For example, ‘yung motorcycle owners, in the absence of a plate number, they can create a plate number, and on the plate number, it will say the motor vehicle file number of the motorcycle,” Tugade said.

The temporary plate showing the file number will be used in identifying the motor vehicle for the meantime. Tugade said that should the need arise, the number shown on the plate can be verified against the vehicle’s certificate of registration, which contains the file number.

“We do need to be able to identify motor vehicles, and that is one way for us to identify motor vehicles. Similar to a brand new motor vehicle – a car – wherein the identification mark is the conduction sticker. So we will be applying the same concept to motorcycles in the event that we fully run out of motorcycle plates, which I hope we don’t,” the LTO head explained.

Tugade, a lawyer by profession,  acknowledged that makeshift plates could be used by criminals, and, on the other hand, be an inconvenience those who do not keep their vehicle’s certificate of registration in their vehicles — where a photocopy ought to be, at all times.

“This is one of the reasons why we should really push for the procurement of these license plates. As much as possible, we should exert all efforts to avoid a situation wherein we will run out of license plates. Again, I’d like to take this opportunity to appeal to the Department of Transportation to fast-track and conclude the procurement of license plates,” he said.

Meanwhile, Josh Subahri (below) of Eurovision — a highly popular  automotive aftermarket accessory shop that provides, among other things, authentic (used and deactivated), brand-new replica European plates, and temporary Philippine license plates — sees this as an opportunity to fill the looming gap with their temporary plates with file numbers.

“It’s really unfortunate that the LTO might have a shortage of plates, but Eurovision is here and ready to help motorists if there is a need for high quality, temporary plates,” said Subahri.

“We at Eurovision specialize in plates since 2010. For your immediate plate needs, let’s say Conduction Plate or MV File Number, we can fabricate acrylic, galvanized metal and aluminum plates for you ON THE SPOT. You can order via messenger at www.facebook.com/Eurovision.Europarts or contact us at 046-515-1644 or 0966-211-5332,” Subahri assures.

If you’ve just purchased a new vehicle, best to contact Eurovision before they get overwhelmed with demand. Otherwise, be prepared to deal with the “no plate, no travel” policy once again.