Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II today urged officials of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to show compassion and concern over 600,000 vehicle owners who have been waiting for months and had paid the necessary dues to have their cars registered and licensed.
Honasan made the call after Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina issued a warning that the bureau will auction the shipment of BV Goes and Power Plates Development Concept Inc. (JKG-PPI) if the private consignee fails to pay the P40 million duties and taxes this week. The shipment, found abandoned in one of the BoC ports, contains the car plates that the LTO has been waiting for.
“The LTO and the Bureau of Customs should show concern for the more than 600,000 vehicle owners. For public interest, they should work together for the immediate release of the car plates,” Honasan said.
The senator said that while the collection of taxes and duties are necessary, the LTO and the BOC must take into consideration the plight of the car owners who have been on the wait list for months.
He added that the car owners have complied with the requirements prescribed by law and have already paid the necessary fees to get their license plates and car stickers.
“I want to ask them (LTO and Customs) to release and distribute it well to the owners. As far as I know, bayad na ‘yon through car registration, but it has been several months pero wala pa rin silang car stickers,” he explained.
Honasan said the two agencies should work together to resolve the issue and discourage criminal elements from using new vehicles without LTO stickers operating in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in their illegal activities.