TARLAC CITY, Tarlac (Oct. 15, 2025) – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has temporarily suspended the implementation of its stringent “No Plate, No Travel” policy for motorcycles, providing relief to riders while the agency ramps up its free plate distribution initiative.
This was confirmed by the LTO’s Tarlac District Office chief Amalia Sigua during a gathering with the Central Luzon Media Association held at Amcardo Cafe yesterday. She announced that the policy’s enforcement has been put on hold by the new LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao, as the agency reviews its implications.
The policy, known as Oplan: Palit Plaka, was originally intended to ensure that no motorcycle operates without a valid license plate. Its suspension offers a grace period for the LTO to continue its widespread outreach efforts.
According to Sigua, the regional LTO offices are in the midst of an ambitious drive to distribute 120,000 new plates, with a target of 30,000 plates each for four key district offices. She reported that they are already halfway to their goal. The Tarlac District Office alone has distributed nearly 20,000 plates, with similar progress seen in Paniqui and other LTO offices in the region.
“Sa ngayon po ay nakakakalahati na kami. Kami po sa Tarlac District office, almost 20,000 na po yung naibibigay namin, gayundin sa Paniqui at ibang LTO [offices],” Sigua revealed.
To bring its services directly to the people, the LTO has been conducting extensive outreach programs. Sigua detailed that their teams have been traveling to various municipalities, including Sta. Ignacia, La Paz, Victoria, Concepcion, and Bamban. The Paniqui office has already covered neighboring towns such as Moncada, Ramos, and Anao. The effort has now moved to the barangay level, with daily stations set up at Market City to facilitate the distribution.
Sigua explicitly stated that the Oplan Palit Plaka program is free of charge for eligible motorcycles. This includes units registered in 2017 or earlier that were never issued an actual plate, motorcycles that were assigned a seven-character plate, and those still using the old six-character green plates.
To avail of the free plates, owners only need to present their Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration (OR/CR) along with a valid ID. However, Sigua emphasized that once a new plate is issued, owners must adhere to their vehicle’s registration schedule, as driving an unregistered vehicle remains strictly prohibited.
“Pero once na nagkaroon na sila ng bagong plaka, malalaman na nila ang kanilang registration schedule. Dapat po ay magrehistro na po sila dahil bawal na bawal ang magmaneho ng hindi rehistradong sasakyan,” Sigua said.
The Vehicle Directive Memorandum that would have enforced the “No Plate, No Travel” policy for motorcycles was slated to take effect on November 1, 2025. Lacanilao cited the need to review the directive’s implications, acknowledging that delays in plate issuance can stem from various sources, including car dealers or the LTO’s own system.
The LTO’s broader “No Plate, No Travel” policy is part of a continuing effort to ensure all vehicles on the road are properly registered and identifiable, thereby enhancing road safety and regulation. The agency has confirmed that there are no longer backlogs for license plates for four-wheel vehicles.
