Sen. JV Ejercito says the LTO will provide leeways on MC transfer of ownership
Since the Republic Act (RA) 12209 was signed into law by President Bongbong Marcos not too long ago, a lot of motorcycle riders were overjoyed with the removal of the “Doble Plaka” requirement of the law it amended, which is RA 11235.
Unfortunately it was short-lived as riders soon realize that the previous mandatory 20-day transfer of ownership requirement is still in effect, only this time, with a lower PHP 5,000 penalty from the previous PHP 20,000 to PHP 50,000.
According to Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito—the principal author of one of the bills that sought to amend RA 11235—the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will be giving a ‘soft hand’ approach to motorcycle riders, and will soon produce guidelines on the matter.
According to the Senator, those who purchased motorcycles some time ago but have yet to finalize the paperwork or the Transfer of Ownership, the LTO will be providing an amnesty or a longer grace period to facilitate this process, even if their requirements, such as the Deed of Sale or ID, are incomplete. According to the agency, the guidelines for this are currently being finalized and will be announced as soon as possible.
In cases where the previous owner can no longer be contacted or has passed away, the current owner will now be able to create and submit an Affidavit of Ownership. This is a sworn statement detailing how the motorcycle was acquired, along with supporting proof of ownership.
The LTO will also create a process where the submission of requirements will be made online. By then, the documents can be uploaded digitally, and once they have been checked and verified, individuals will only need to visit the office to claim or replace the original OR/CR. This aims to expedite and simplify the process. Recognizing the value of time, especially for riders, delivery personnel, and motorcycle taxi drivers, this initiative is intended to reduce the need for repeated visits to the agency.
Following the amnesty period, the corresponding fines and penalties as mandated by law will be reinstated. Therefore, all riders are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to register their vehicles, said Sen. JV via his official social media page.
The Senator also expressed his gratitude to the LTO for their attention and commitment to improving the system. He also ensured the continued monitoring of developments and the steady progress of these new measures.
