We purchased a pre-owned vehicle in 2008. One of its license plates was missing so we did not waste time applying for a replacement plate. It was registered by the first owner at the Land Transporation Office (LTO) Navotas so we had to apply for the replacement plate at the same LTO office.

We were given a copy of our Application for a License Plate and on the document was stamped the date of the scheduled release of the replacement plate which was 2 months from the date of the application.

We came back to LTO Navotas on the said date expecting to leave the place with our replacement license plate. Much to our disappointment, we were told that it was not yet ready. The date of release was extended to a month. A new date of release was stamped on the document. After a month, we came back. Same thing happened. This went on for a year until someone offered to purchase our vehicle at a price we could not resist. We ended up selling the vehicle in July 2009 still without the replacement plate.

After a year, the new owner contacted us. I was surprised when he told me this: LTO Navotas refuses to recognize the document we are presenting to claim the replacement license plate. They say that no application for a replacement plate for the vehicle in question was ever filed with them!

I don’t know what strange things go on in that office. All I know is that they are paid hard-earned taxpayer’s money seemingly to just monkey around. They have always given us the excuse…errr…reason that a certain number of applications have to be collected before they could be forwarded to the Head Office for processing. We waited a year! And the new buyer, another year! But still no plate!

As it turned out, a big-time car-theft syndicate inside LTO was busted in July 2009 (see Inquirer article here) – which could have explained the delay in the release of our new license plate in 2009.

But after that period, things should have changed for the better, right?

I am just dumbstruck by the audacity of these people. What makes them think they could go on like that? Are they not ashamed whenever they collect their paychecks?

What could possibly be the explanation for the delay after that big-time car-theft ring bust last year? Was it all a sham?

Do some LTO employees continue to be in cahoots with crime groups?

Maybe that is why the “regular” applicants have to wait years for their replacement plates. Maybe there is bigger business in “other” clients.

Mr. President Noynoy Aquino, I know you have a lot on your hands already but I still fervently hope that cleaning up the LTO is not yet a lost cause.

Related posts:

1. Driving License Renewal Jitters
2. An Open letter to President Noynoy Aquino
3. How to access grants for community development projects

Tags: land transportation office, lto, LTO corruption, LTO inefficiencies, LTO navotas