Dagupan: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) district office in Dagupan has distributed 17,000 backlog motorcycle plates, representing 63.73 percent of the total 22,631 backlogs, as of Friday. The distribution process is part of an ongoing campaign that started in August.

According to Philippines News Agency, LTO Dagupan District Office chief Romel Dawaton stated in an interview that the campaign targets motorcycles registered from 2014 to 2017, which have old six- and seven-digit plates. The office has partnered with local malls to facilitate the distribution process, taking advantage of the high foot traffic in these locations. Additionally, the district office has extended its operational hours to weekends, remaining open on Saturdays and Sundays to accommodate the distribution efforts.

For motorcycles purchased after 2017, Dawaton advised owners to coordinate with their dealers for plate acquisition, as the plates have been turned over to them. While an official announcement is pending, the full implementation of the 'No Plate, No Travel Policy' is anticipated in October. Dawaton emphasized the importance of immediately installing the plates upon receipt to avoid penalties. Under Joint Administrative Order 2014-01, failure to attach an authorized license plate incurs a penalty of PHP5,000.

Furthermore, Dawaton urged motorcycle owners to ensure their vehicles are registered to prevent violations. An unregistered vehicle carries a fine of PHP10,000. During the distribution process, it was noted that some motorcycles had not been registered since 2013 or 2014. Although plates are assigned to these vehicles, owners are required to update their registration to incorporate the official receipt with their plate, ensuring their official registration is current.

Plates are being released regardless of whether the motorcycle registration is up-to-date for the current year.