Goodbye stenciling: LTO removes cumbersome step in vehicle registration renewal

In what could be a blow to LTO fixers that have earned a living putting pencil to paper while facilitating cumbersome registration renewals,  the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has announced through Memorandum Circular No. JMT-2023-2399  that the stenciling of the engine and chassis numbers is no longer required for vehicles undergoing “plain renewal.” 

The LTO previously required stenciling to renew your car's registration once your initial three-year registration was up if you bought a brand-new vehicle. However, the practice remains for those purchasing a second-hand car as a security measure to ensure that the vehicle hasn’t been carnapped. 

Many motorists felt stenciling was an unnecessary step that only took up more time and slowed the plain renewal process. Plus, it gave fixers legitimacy in LTO premises as the engine and chassis stenciling process was oftentimes difficult for the ordinary car owner to perform.

However, thanks to the memo signed by previous LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade before he stepped down from his role, the stenciling of the engine and chassis numbers have been removed from the registration process.

The Memorandum Circular No. JMT-2023-2399 of the LTO, signed on May 22, 2023, seeks to streamline the process of the government agency to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of its services to the public under R.A 11032, known as the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.” 

Inspection still required

Despite removing the stenciling requirement, the LTO reiterated that motorists must still inspect their vehicles to ensure roadworthiness. These inspections can be done at a motor vehicle inspection center (MVIC), or the motorist can secure a certificate of emission compliance from an emissions testing center. Either of those two methods will allow them to renew their vehicle registration.

A new but temporary chief in town

As you have probably heard by now, Jay Art Tugade has stepped down as the Chief of the LTO. While he has no direct replacement, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant secretary (Asec). Hector Villacorta has been appointed as his temporary replacement as the new officer-in-charge. 

Villacorta was appointed to his new position by DOTr Secretary Jaimie Bautista. 

“Asec. Villacorta will be the LTO OIC while waiting for permanent appointment by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” said Bautista, who officially announced it during the turnover ceremony at the LTO.

Villacorta will continue the LTO’s mandate of providing excellent service to the people by focusing on critical issues such as the shortages of driver’s licenses and license plates. 

"This is not just a transition but a continuation of the efforts done by the LTO all these many decades. We give you an institution where personalities may change, but we will carry on. With the dawn in this office, we will never forget those who helped through the night,” said Villacorta.

What do you think of the removal of the stenciling step and the new but temporary LTO chief?

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