Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza II on Sunday warned vehicle owners with unclaimed license plates against dealing with unauthorized fixers out to make a fast money out of the transactions.
Mendoza cited reports that certain individuals were are already negotiating with LTO clients for a P200 for the release of license plates.
“Those people would ask for P200 to avoid long queues in all district offices and distribution sites. I am telling the public now that it is not true. We have put in place an orderly system to expedite the distribution process,” he said.
“And take note, this is all for free. I am asking the public to immediately report to us whoever would ask money from you,” he added.
The distribution process for the license plates has started in some areas, particularly in Bicol, he said.
“This is the kind of public service that the Filipino people expect from us on the marching order of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista,” he added.
The LTO chief advised motorists that the agency would come up with an appointment system for a systematic and orderly distribution of unclaimed license plates, including in the malls that are being eyed as distribution sites.
“And we will put ‘mystery persons’ who will get their plates to identify, validate and monitor if there is someone asking for money,” he said.
He called on regional directors and heads of district offices to come up with the best practices to distribute the unclaimed license plates at the soonest possible time, or earlier than the 60-day deadline.