The shortage of car registration forms and stickers as well as other documents issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) appears to be worsening as its chief has even ordered traffic enforcers not to apprehend vehicle owners without updated car registration stickers.

In a memorandum circular no. ACL-2010-1267 issued on Monday, LTO Chief Arturo Lomibao ordered LTO officers, law enforcers, adjudicators, other personnel, and deputized agents concerned “not to apprehend and/or penalize drivers or owners of motor vehicles with plate numbers ending in 1 (vehicles for renewal in January) on the ground of not having 2010 stickers and year tags as long as they can present documents that they have filed and completed their applications for renewal of registration duly received by LTO on or before Jan. 31, 2010.”

“The delivery of stickers and year tags was delayed, hence this directive,” Lomibao said in his order.

The number of motor vehicles for registration during January or those with license plates ending in digit “1” could be more or less 580,000 according to Engr. Joel Donato, chief of the LTO-National Capital Region’s North Motor Vehicle Inspection System said. He noted that 5.8 million motor vehicles as of 2009 if divided by 10 for the 10 registration months, there would be more or less 580,000 motor vehicles for registration for a month.

Lomibao said “LTO employees not complying with his order shall be proceeded against administratively while non-complying agents shall have their deputations revoked or cancelled.”

The LTO media center the past few days has been receiving telephone calls from irate motorists asking why they have not been given their car registration stickers. (JC Bello Ruiz)