BOC turns over 330,000 license plates to LTO

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) turned over 330,000 pairs of motor vehicle license plates to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) even after the supplier failed to pay the shipment's taxes and duties.

BOC Commissioner Alberto Lina noted he and LTO chief Roberto Cabrera agreed to implement the “intra government payment of duties and taxes” covering the license plates that have been placed on hold at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) since last year.

"May mekanismo para magkaroon na tinatawag na intra-government o intra-department payment of duties and taxes kaya nailabas na 'yan," Lina said.

With the license plates released, Cabera noted the LTO could address the backlog but only partially because the projected logjam nationwide has reached 2.5 million.

In a March 30, 2016 decision, the BOC denied the appeal of consignees J. Knieriem b.v (JKG) and Power Plates Development Concepts Inc. (JKG-PPI), to declare the plates as abandoned in line with the law and deemed the shipment as government property.

Early last month, BOC spokesperson Belle Maestro said JKG-PPI were committed to pay the government P40 million in taxes and duties for the license plates. 

The licence plates were shipped in 11 container vans.

The BOC emphasized it could not utilize or dispose the plates as these were specifically manufactured according to the requirements and security features prescribed by the LTO.

Apart from the shipment held at the MICP, another batch of license plates was stolen at the LTO Central Office in Quezon City during the Holy Week. The incident has not yet been solved. – Joseph Tristan Roxas/VDS, GMA News