Senate Majority Leader Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino hailed the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 12209, a landmark legislation that eliminates the contentious “doble plaka” (double plate) requirement for motorcycles.
Senator Tolentino, the principal sponsor and co-author of RA 12209, expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I reiterate what I said in February when the Senate ratified this measure: this is a victory for the motorcycle riding community.”
Reflecting on his role in pushing for the measure, Senator Tolentino remarked, “I leave the Senate full of gratitude, witnessing this significant law finally signed for millions of our fellow Filipinos who depend on their motorcycles every day.” He further emphasized the law’s importance, adding, “This is another legacy of the 19th Congress for our people.”
Beyond abolishing the double license plate mandate, RA 12209 also addresses other key concerns. The new law reduces the exorbitant fines and penalties previously imposed under the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act (RA 11235).
Furthermore, RA 12209 mandates the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to resolve its substantial license plate backlog, which had ballooned to approximately 12 million, by June 30, 2026.
Senator Tolentino was a vocal critic of the LTO’s previous memorandum that penalized the use of temporary and improvised license plates. He attributed the shortage of official plates to the agency’s significant backlog, a policy the LTO eventually rescinded in December of the previous year.
