PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a proposal to extend the validity of Land Transportation Office (LTO) registrations for new motor vehicles from three years to five years, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Marcos gave his approval during a meeting with Department of Transportation (DOTr) officials led by Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez.
“Secretary Lopez made a suggestion regarding the registration of new vehicles; instead of three years, make it five years. The president has initially approved it,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in Filipino during a press conference.
The DOTr and LTO will draft the memorandum to implement the new policy in the coming days, she added.
Under current regulations, an initial LTO registration valid for three years is processed by the dealer upon purchase. This applies to brand-new cars, including those with engine displacements of 200 cc or higher. Owners must renew the registration annually after this initial period, with schedules determined by the last digit of the license plate number.
In the same meeting, Marcos directed transportation officials to hasten the upgrading of the country’s railway systems for the convenience of commuters.
“President Marcos Jr. issued a directive to the DOTr secretary to prioritize the welfare of commuters, keep facilities clean and tidy, and ensure reliable and on-time trains at all times,” Castro said.
She added that the president wants faster, more comfortable travel, shorter queues, additional trains, and longer operating hours for Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2 and Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3).
Lopez updated the president on the ongoing rehabilitation of train facilities at the MRT Quezon Avenue Station, the implementation of a cashless payment system in MRT-3, preparations to introduce cashless payments in LRT-1 and LRT-2 this year, and the rehabilitation of the remaining unused Dalian trains for MRT-3.
He also briefed Marcos on the status of major government infrastructure projects. Partial operations for the North-South Commuter Railway Valenzuela-to-Malolos section are set for 2027, with the Malolos-Clark extension following in 2028.
Lopez said MRT-7, connecting Quezon City and Bulacan, is set for partial operations in 2027, while the Metro Manila Subway is scheduled to begin its demonstration run in 2028, with full operations expected by 2032.
