The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will start issuing license plates with the new alphanumeric designs by the end of September 2013. The revised plate design also features multiple security features to "prevent the tampering, theft, and falsification of license plates, mitigating carnapping, colorum, and smuggling practices," according to the Department of Transportation and Commouncations (DOTC).

The DOTC Bids and Awards Committee has just awarded the PhP3.185-B five-year supply contract for motor vehicle (PhP1.989-B) and motorcycle (PhP1.196-B) license plates to J. Knieriem B.V. Goes and Power Plates Development Concepts, Inc. (JKG-PPDCI).

Under the bidding procedure, the DOTC will have to finalize the supply contract within ten days and issue a ‘Notice to Proceed’ order to the supplier. JKG-PPDCI will deliver the new license plates to the LTO within thirty days.

"The public can start enjoying the benefits of cutting-edge standardized license plates before the end of September. They need not wait much longer," said DOTC Spokesperson Michael Arthur Sagcal.

The long anticipated plate modernization program of the LTO has been subject to much delay and controversy regarding bidding procedures and regulations. According to the DOTC, they have satisfactorily address questions with respect to various issues raised by losing bidders and other interested parties in connection with the bidding out of this project.

"What matters is that the DOTC conducted an open, fair, and transparent bidding in accordance with procurement laws," remarked Sagcal.

Motor vehicle plates will now have a three-letter, four-number combination, and  motorcycle plates will have a two-letter, five-number combination.

The new designs will also have the latest technologies adopted as multiple security features:

• Laser-etched bar codes containing selective data inputs which will allow data verification with the LTO.
• Reflective sheeting material, which will allow license plate visibility even from wide-entrance angles and up to a distance of 100 feet, for both daytime and nighttime. This will have security images which cannot be removed by any known method without damaging the sheeting.
• Anodized bolt head screws and nuts with serial numbers, which will prevent tampering and removal of the license plates from the vehicle bodies once installed.

"The new security features will promote safety and reliability in accordance with international quality standards," Sagcal added.

As reported earlier, the September release date covers new registrations, applications for duplicate and replacements as well as re-classification of motor vehicle plates. Plate replacement for renewals will take effect in January 2014. The price for the new plates will be PhP450 for motor vehicles and Php120 for motorcycles.