Commentary
Goodbye Green, Hello White: LTO’s Free Plate Delivery Sparks Reactions
Thousands of car owners in Metro Manila can finally say goodbye to their old green plates — and they don’t even have to brave the lines.
The Land Transportation Office – National Capital Region (LTO-NCR) has launched a new system for claiming long-awaited white replacement plates. Through the official LTO NCR website, motorists can now easily check if their replacement plate is ready and have it delivered for free to the LTO District or Extension Office nearest their registered address.
This service applies to all plates previously processed under the 2015 registration renewal system, the same year when the shift from green to white plates was officially implemented.
In a public advisory, the LTO emphasized that the delivery form for replacement plates is now open. Claimants who find their plate on the list can either collect it from the listed LTO office or choose a more convenient location under the NCR coverage.
To access the feature, visit: https://www.ltoncr.com/rplateinquiry
This move is part of the agency’s commitment to better public service by reducing crowding and wait times at LTO branches.
But here’s the catch: you still need to bring the proper documents to claim your plate.
📌 For first owners:
- Photocopy of Certificate of Registration (CR)
- Latest Official Receipt (OR)
- Valid ID of the registered owner
📌 For second-hand owners (not yet transferred):
- CR, latest OR, and the Deed of Sale
- Valid IDs of both buyer and seller
📌 If claiming through a representative:
- Authorization letter
- Valid ID of the representative
The campaign has quickly gone viral, with many car owners expressing hope, while others are airing frustration over years-long delays, and mixed communication.
One netizen voiced a common complaint online, saying:
“Pag nagtanong ka status, magrereply sila ng ‘Magandang araw po. Naipadala na po namin ang status nito sa pamamagitan ng private message. Salamat po.’ Laging ganyan reply… dpat sana di muna sila mag accept ng payment for delivery kung wala naman pala ung plate kc sabi ‘We are now locating your plate number.'”
The post resonated with many, highlighting a recurring issue: paying for delivery only to be told the plate is still being traced.
Still, many remain cautiously optimistic that this new digital system is a step in the right direction. At the very least, it provides a clearer window into the status of long-promised plates, and a little more hope that they’ll finally arrive.
“Imagine a scooter faster than your car—160 km/h on EDSA. Would you ride it, or would you run from it?”
If this hits our roads, it’s either the coolest thing you’ll see this year… or the quickest way to trend on Facebook for all the wrong reasons.
UK-based Bo is building the Bo M Turbo, an electric scooter aiming to break the world speed record at over 160 km/h. That’s faster than most cars in Metro Manila traffic—if you can even reach full throttle before hitting a jeepney.
The Turbo packs a 24kW dual-motor system, a 1.8kWh battery, Formula 1-inspired cooling, and quad-piston disc brakes. It even has a power-to-weight ratio higher than a Bugatti Veyron.
Bo’s team includes former Formula 1 and Bloodhound Land Speed Record engineers. They’re taking the Turbo to Bonneville Speed Week in Utah to prove it’s the fastest scooter in the world.
Built for Speed, Priced for the Rich
- Top speed: 160+ km/h
- Range: Up to 241 km at cruising speed (28 km/h)
- Price: Around $29,500 (~₱1.7M)
Not exactly a GrabBike replacement—this is for someone with a Mercedes-AMG in the garage who wants a smaller toy.
The Cheaper Option
Bo also sells the Model M for about ₱94,000, with a 35 km/h top speed and 48 km range. Good for city commutes without scaring pedestrians.
Would you ride a 160 km/h scooter in Manila, or should it stay on the race track?
Lamborghini is in a legal showdown with one of its U.S. dealers, accusing it of selling high-end supercars to unauthorized middlemen — and in some cases, to individuals linked to “drug dealers and pimps.”
At the center of the dispute is Gold Coast Exotic Imports in Chicago, Illinois. The Italian carmaker claims the dealership breached its contract by selling at least 32 vehicles in 2023 to brokers instead of directly to retail buyers or other authorized dealers.
Court filings allege that some buyers had no intention of keeping the cars, flipping them instead for hefty profits. In one example, Lamborghini says a car went to someone previously convicted of fraud tied to laundering money through luxury car sales to criminal networks.
The brand also accuses Gold Coast of demanding off-the-books kickbacks worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for access to limited-edition models. Since 2019, Lamborghini claims to have paid the dealership over $4 million in incentive bonuses.
Gold Coast denies the allegations, countering that Lamborghini has withheld funds for showroom upgrades, failed to cover marketing costs, and is trying to push out its president, 81-year-old Joseph Perillo Sr. The dealership has taken its grievances to the Illinois Motor Vehicle Review Board.
Despite the heated exchanges, both sides told U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer they are in talks for an out-of-court settlement. If that fails, a trial could take place in December 2026.
This dispute follows another high-profile scandal involving Ferrari’s German dealer Mertel Italo Cars, accused of fraud and swiftly cut off by the brand. For Italy’s supercar makers, the twin controversies highlight the ongoing challenge of keeping their exclusive cars out of speculative or criminal hands — and protecting their carefully crafted image.
Quezon City went full force on August 8, 2025, with a large-scale “One-Time Big-Time” operation along G. Araneta Avenue, from Kaliraya Street to Palanza Street. The city aimed to keep roads clear, ease traffic, and prevent flooding caused by clogged drainage and obstructions.
The drive started at 8:00 a.m. and targeted several problem areas:
- Clearing streets and canals filled with garbage
- Removing illegal street dwellers
- Taking out road and sidewalk obstructions
- Towing illegally parked vehicles
- Issuing tickets to ordinance violators
The coordinated effort brought together the Traffic and Transport Management Department (TTMD), Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), District Sanitation and Quality Control (DSQC), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Social Services Development Department (SSDD), Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QCDRRMO), with support from local barangays.
City officials who oversaw the operation included TTMD Head Dexter C. Cardenas, DPOS Clearing and Demolition Chief Remigio B. Gregorio, former District 1 councilor Ollie Belmonte, District IV Action Officer Atty. Zandy Zacate, and MDAD Head P/Col Alex D.J. Alberto (Ret.) PhD.
This was a follow-up to an earlier clearing operation held on August 6, 2025.
The city reminded residents to keep surroundings clean, avoid littering, and follow local laws. Officials stressed that discipline is a shared responsibility—not just the government’s job.
