MANILA: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) extended its deadline on the ban against the use of improvised and temporary plates for motor vehicles. In a statement Monday, LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said instead of Sept. 1, the prohibition on temporary plates will take effect on Dec. 31. 'We ask motorists to claim and install their respective license plates as soon as they are available either in the car dealerships and replacement plates in our offices,' Mendoza said. The installation of license plates, he said, would help as a crime prevention measure as some are being used in criminal activities. 'Wala na pong backlog sa mga four-wheel vehicles so there is no reason for these vehicle owners not to claim and install them in their vehicles,' he said. However, he said there is still a backlog for motorcycle plates. '[Motorcycle plates] po ay ang focus namin ngayon (Motorcycle plates are our focus today) in compliance with the directive from President [Ferdinand R.] Marcos to address all the backlog on license plates by June next year,' Mendoza said. He said the extension of the deadline would not diminish the LTO's efforts in coming up with measures to deliver unclaimed license plates to its owners. LTO regional directors and district office heads, he said, have coordinated with local government units for the distribution of license plates. LTO earlier issued a memorandum circular against the use of improvised and temporary plates after an initial investigation showed that registered owners of vehicles, especially newly bought ones, are not claiming their license plates from motor vehicle dealerships. Following a meeting with the LTO in August, car dealerships said thousands of license plates remain unclaimed despite repeated attempts to contact vehicle owners. Source: Philippines News Agency