LTO: 16-digit taxi plates temporary

MANILA, Philippines - Temporary “plates” bearing 16 numeric digits issued to taxicabs amid a shortage of license plates a few months ago are now no longer allowed, the Land Transportation Office said yesterday.

LTO spokesman Jason Salvador said these taxicabs, once spotted on the road, would be escorted to the nearest regional office where the proper plates would be given to them.

Salvador said the agency has addressed the plate supply shortage and it could be that the taxicab operators had not claimed their plates yet and instead continued to use the temporary plates.

He explained the digits in these temporary plates represent the motor vehicle file number of the taxicab.

Conduction stickers were issued to private vehicles, but Salvador said these could not be issued to public utility vehicles.

“The conduction sticker does not necessarily mean the vehicle has been registered,” he said.