An official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) raised awareness about the use of yellow, Japanese and Euro-style plates after spotting them on the road.
Gabriel Go, MMDA head of the Special Operations Group-Strike Force, shared photos of vehicles in Metro Manila with unauthorized plates and called them out for it.
One vehicle had a plate with what appeared to be Japanese characters, while the other had a yellow plate.
Neither is authorized for use in the Philippines, which uses white license plates with black digits and no other design elements.
“Paulit-ulit tayo dito ah… Muling paalala: Hindi ibig sabihin na bago ang sasakyan niyo at wala pang issued plate ay maaari kayo magpagawa ng mga TEMPORARY CONDUCTION PLATE NA HINDI AKMA SA AUTHORIZED FORMAT NG LTO,” Go wrote on Facebook on Wednesday, February 25.
LTO refers to the Land Transportation Office, the agency that issues driver’s licenses and vehicle plates.
Meanwhile, a conduction plate is a temporary alphanumeric identification issued by the LTO for new vehicles that have yet to be registered. It serves as a permit to drive while waiting for the official license plate to be issued.
“Mayroong tinatawag na Conduction Plate na nakakabit sa mga brand new na sasakyan ‘pag nilalabas mula sa dealership, na kung saan ito ang dapat nakakabit while waiting for your actual LTO-issued Plate Number,” the MMDA official wrote in his post.
“Itong mga YELLOW PLATE, JDM PLATE, EURO PLATE, o iba pang mga hindi awtorisadong temporary plates ay mahigpit na pinagbabawal at mayroong katumbas na penalty of PHP5,000.00,” Go added.
JDM or Japanese Domestic Market refers to a Japanese license plate.
He said that such plates are for “aesthetic purposes” only, emphasizing that it is the driver’s responsibility to follow up with their dealer or the LTO regarding their legitimate license plate.
“Car ownership is not just a PRIVILEGE, it also comes with RESPONSIBILITY such as, but not limited to, ensuring roadworthiness and proper legal documents are carried [or] installed based on prescribed guidelines of national laws and regulations,” Go concluded.
License plates serve as proof that a vehicle has been properly registered and is authorized for use on public roads.
They are crucial for official identification, enabling authorities to monitor vehicles and ensure compliance with traffic rules and regulations. These plates also serve as a primary identifier in cases of vehicle theft or loss.
The Land Transportation and Traffic Code states that motorists “shall display in conspicuous places” their license plates at the front and rear parts of the vehicle.
Motorists may be penalized if they are caught driving “with delinquent, suspended or invalid registration, or without registration or without the proper license plate for the current year.”
