MMDA chief asks LTO to stop implementation of ‘no-plate, no-travel’ policy

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino on Wednesday called on the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to stop the implementation of its “no-plate, no-travel” policy, saying it is “unconstitutional.”

“Ang no-plate, no-travel policy na ito ay labag sa Konstitusyon. Kaya naman nakikiusap kami sa LTO na ipagpaliban muna ang implementasyon ng polisiyang ito,” Tolentino said in a phonepatch interview with radio DzBB.

Tolentino pointed out that penalizing the motorists for the failure of the dealers to have their cars registered with the LTO is against the law.

“Nakalagay sa Saligang Batas natin, 'No one can be deprived of his life, liberty or property without the due process of law.' Eto, ari-arian ito, personal property ito na hindi magamit ng ating mga kababayan, dahil lamang sa isang polisiya na hindi nila alam,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino said he has already sent a letter to LTO chief and Transportation Assistant Secretary Alfonso Tan to formally ask for the deferment of the policy's implementation, which was scheduled to start on Wednesday, April 1.

He said that as for the MMDA, he has already instructed his traffic enforcers not to apprehend motorists who do not yet have plates for their brand new vehicles.

.@MMDA, napagdesisyunang huwag manghuli ng mga lumalabag sa "no plate, no travel policy," ayon kay Atty. Francis Tolentino.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) April 1, 2015

“Yung brand new na sasakyan na binili nila, wala naman silang intensyon na walang plaka. Wala lang ibinigay sa kanila ang mga dealer,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino said 17 local governments in Metro Manila have likewise decided not enforce the LTO policy on Wednesday.

“Nakausap natin ang mga mayor ng 17 cities sa Metro Manila, at sabi nila, hindi din muna sila manghuhuli ng mga walang plaka. Gusto nila na mas mapag-aralan pa ang polisiyang ito,” he said.

Aside from allegedly being “unconstitutional,” Tolentino also described the new LTO policy as “un-Christian,” adding that the policy's implementation is very untimely.

“Napakalaki ng epekto dahil pauwi ang mga kababayan natin ngayon sa mga lalawigan para sa Semana Santa, may paparating pa na bagyo. Pipigilin natin dahil lang brand new yung sasakyan nila. Yung brand new na sasakyan yan yung pinakaligtas, pinakasigurado sa pagbya-biyahe lalo na pag malayuan,” Tolentino said.

Under the new LTO rule, also called as the “no-registration, no-travel” policy, owner of the unregistered vehicle will be fined with P10,000. A separate P1,000 fine will also be meted out to those who will be caught driving the unregistered vehicle.

If the car owner or driver will be able to present a Certificate of Registration and an Official Receipt (OR) to prove that the vehicle is duly registered, he will still be fined of P5,000 for failure to attach the vehicle's plate.

The policy, meanwhile, gives leeway to owners of vehicles purchased in the past seven days –the LTO's allowable number of days for the owners to have their brand new vehicles registered.

The owner/driver purchased within seven days must present the following upon apprehension to avoid penalties: Certificate of Stock Reported, Sales Invoice dated within seven days prior to the apprehension, and a Certificate of Insurance Cover dated on or after the date of the Sales Invoice. —KBK, GMA News