LTO Got a ‘Donation’ from BOC  

MANILA: BOC, The Bureau of Customs has finally shown mercy on the Land Transportation Office, LTO and instead of just auctioning the seized 600,000 car licence plates, BOC has handed over the plates to the LTO. And mind you consider it as a donation as the company has still not paid the duties and taxes worth PhP 40 million to the customs which is aside from the wharfage and storage fees.

300,000 pairs licence plates were impounded last year from the port and were stored under the custody of BOC. They were declared abandoned and the BOC was about to auction the plates as the plates supplier, Power Plates Development Concepts Inc. and J. Knieriem BV Goes (JKG) fell short of the amount of taxes and duties. The idea of an auction was dismissed on account for the security of the plates as the customs didn't want the plates to go in wrong hands. So according to Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina, turning them over to the organisation which has the sole responsibility of issuing the plates to the owners seemed to be a good idea in the public interest.

However, as to when the plates would be released to the customers is still uncertain as it requires clearance from the Commission on Audit (COA). LTO has yet to clear its backlog of around one million pairs of licence plates which has been accumulated due to the notice of disallowance issued to the LTO.

Earlier also, LTO Philippines was rebuked over this year's registration stickers which the organisation released earlier this month. Now we hope the LTO to soon clear its issue and start issuing the licence plates to the owners of registered vehicles which they require from the starting of this year.

Also Read: LTO Philippines Recalls the Infamous Vintage Car AO