House panel OKs bigger plates for motorcycles

MANILA, Philippines — Bigger license plates will soon be required for motorcycles to deter crimes perpetrated by criminals riding solo or in tandem.

The House committee on transportation yesterday endorsed a substitute bill prescribing the use of such bigger plates.

The proposed law is a consolidation of four related measures authored by Rep. Cesar Sarmiento of Catanduanes, Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa, Ferdinand Hernandez of South Cotabato, Victor Yap of Tarlac, Romeo Acop of Antipolo City, and Reynaldo Umali of Mindoro Oriental.

The bill authorizes the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to devise and issue within one year a bigger plate for motorcycles with large and readable font from a distance of 12 meters.

The LTO would keep a registry of all motorcycles and their owners, including relevant information.

The bigger license plate would be displayed at the back of a motorcycle. It would be made of durable material to be determined by the LTO.