Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS:
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5888

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie”Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This legislative measure aims to formulate a more rational framework in going about
license plate replacement. In effect, it proposes a schedule of twelve (12) years in which case,
no license plate replacement may be launched at a nation-wide scale which violates the
provision of this new proposal.

This shall break the pattern wherein new license plates are implemented every change
of administration indicatively out of mere caprice, whim or for any political or economic reason.
More importantly, this shall relieve the public of the burden of having to shell out hard-earned
‘money to an unnecessary expenditure otherwise not subsidized by the government.

In fact, 12 years are quick to pass and will not even alter nor render the integrity of the
materials or features in license plates questionable even beyond that period unless new
developments (i.e. illegally-replicated plates, security concerns) warrant, Thus, this 12-year
replacement schedule may also be the same as the renewal date for license plates or after
which, the same are deemed as ‘dead.

In other words, the bill looks at 12 years as the standard life span of a valid license plate
of motor vehicles of all types in the country subject to extension as may be issued by
appropriate agency of government.

Meantime, the Land Transportation Office may do well to perform its mandate by
insuring a reliable database as well as inventory of all license plates so far issued to some
5,530,052 registered vehicles (i.e. 2007 data from LTO) consisting of 751,092 cars or 14.09%,
1,602,619 or 30.06% UV, 192,991 or 3.62% SUV, 281,261 or 5.28% trucks, 30,159 or 0.57% buses,
2,647,574 or 49.66 MC/TC24,356 or 0.46% Trailer.

Seriously, license plate replacement should only be effected if there are sufficienyfrounds fo}
doing so. For instance, if the license plate does not in any interfere with vehicle identification, then it
should remain in use and valid unless otherwise the same already far exceeded its ingended life span,
severely deteriorated, and were very hard to read. Other grounds relating to unregisfered vehicles and
fraud, and updating our state image may well be taken into account.

‘The passage of this urgent measure is most earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS -
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5888

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie”Castelo

AN ACT
MANDATING THE LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE TO RENEW OR REPLACE LICENSE PLATES
OF MOTOR VEHICLES UNDER ITS JURISDICTION ONLY AFTER EVERY TWELVE (12) YEARS AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “License Plate Renewal/Replacement Act of
2015”.

SEC. 2. The Land Transportation Office shall hereby be mandated to renew or replace
license plates or motor vehicles under its jurisdiction only after every twelve (12) years and/or
an extended period of time as it may deem appropriate.

SEC. 3. To effectively implement this Act, the Land Transportation Office shall issue
appropriate rules, regulations, standards, and guidelines that shall justify the
renewal/replacement of license plates of motor vehicles and/or extension of the use and
validity thereof.

SEC. 4, This Act shall take effect upon its approval, publication in the Official Gazette,
and in at least three (3) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,