The Land Transportation Office-Northern Mindanao (LTO-10) has confirmed that applications for the registration of surplus vehicles in Mindanao are suspended temporarily by the central office.

The memorandum, which circulated on social media, halts specifically the new registration of imported motor vehicles, imported rebuilt vehicles such as multicabs, and locally rebuilt vehicles.

LTO-10 said the suspension aims to ensure that all vehicles undergo the proper registration process before they are recorded officially.

“When you say imported rebuilt ito yung mga pumasok na mga piyesa, piyesa tapos binuo nila into one vehicle bawal po muna irehistro yan. May mga regions na nag-register na hindi dumaan sa tamang proseso,” LTO-10 Director, Nelson Manaloto, said.

Manaloto said the directive covers all regional LTO offices in Mindanao, following complaints received by the central office regarding irregular transactions that bypassed proper registration procedures.

No date has yet been set for when new registrations for these vehicles will resume.

A local rebuilder and small auto shop owner in Cagayan de Oro City expressed concern over the impact of the suspension on their business.

“Amo sa gihangyo ang mga kadagkuan sa LTO nga tagaan unta mi ug chance nga mabuhi isip autoshop. Wala ni palusot niagi gyud ko og saktong proseso sa pag-process sa new registration,” auto shop owner, alias Tomas, said.

However, LTO-10 clarified that only new applications are affected, and vehicles already registered can continue to renew their registrations.

“Bago niyo bayaran i-check niyo muna kung nabayaran ang Custom payment niyan kasi kung hidi nabayaran hindi namin ire-rehistro kahit nabayaran nyo na sa dealer yan,” Manaloto said.