In consideration of the present situation brought about by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has moved to further extend the validity of registration for motor vehicles.

To recall, the LTO has previously issued an order to implement non-collection of penalties for late registration of motor vehicles and renewal of driver’s licenses which expired during the duration of community quarantine. The non-collection of fees has been effective as early as March this year, upon the enforcement of  Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila.

On 9 May, the Agency issued another Memorandum Circular (MC), this time automatically  extending the validity of registration of motor vehicles which expired on 01 March and until the date of work resumption. The extension is for sixty (60) calendar days from work resumption, and includes motor vehicles with plate numbers ending in 3, 4, and 5 or March, April and May, as well as those with no plates yet.

Last 24 June, it has issued still another MC to further extends the validity of registration for motor vehicles with registration renewal schedules in the months from June to October, or those with plate numbers ending in 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0.

“We are continuously extending the validity and the period for renewal of registration of motor vehicles since March. This is in adherence to the directive of Secretary Tugade, at the start of the community quarantine, to consider the health and economic crisis we are facing. Naiintindihan po natin na apektado ang kabuhayan ng marami nating kababayan sa panahon ng pandemya kaya natin pinapalawig ang validity ng mga rehistro,” LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar C. Galvante said.

For motor vehicles with plate numbers ending in 6 or those scheduled for registration renewal in June in all areas other than the National Capital Region (NCR), Laguna, Cebu, and Region III, renewal registration validity is extended for thirty (30) days from 30 June 2020. Thus, no penalty shall be collected for renewal transactions from 01-31 July 2020 for these motor vehicles.

Meanwhile, LTO offices have given all motor vehicles plate numbers ending in 6 or those scheduled for renewal in June in NCR, Laguna, Cebu, and Region III, an additional thirty (30) days of extended validity period. This is on top of the sixty (60) days extension given by LTO beginning from the date of the agency’s work resumption on 03 June 2020. This means that these vehicles have an extended deadline until 03 September 2020.

Further, an extension of thirty (30) days for renewal registration is given for motor vehicles with plate numbers ending in 7, 8, 9 and 0 in all LTO offices. The 30-day extension is effective from their supposed expiration as follows:

Plates ending in 7- from July 31 now adjusted to August 31;
Plates ending in 8- from August now adjusted to September 30;
Plates ending in 9-from September 30  now adjusted to October 31; and
Plates ending in 0- from October 31 to  November 30 2020.

No penalty and surcharge shall also be collected for renewal transactions within the revised schedule given by the LTO. The said schedule will be implemented in order to avoid congestion at LTO offices and ensure that the processing of transactions will observe strict health and safety protocols.

Asec Galvante appeals to motorists to follow the revised schedule of renewal transactions, and to not wait for the deadline, to effectively carry out smooth transactions, as well as avoid aberrations, especially as the chance of COVID-19 transmission within the community remains high.

“Aside from considering the financial health of motorists, we have crafted this schedule so that we can create a systematic and organized process of renewal of motor vehicle registration in all our offices. This is also to ensure that the clients’ and our employees’ welfare are well-protected at all cost,” the LTO Chief emphasized.