In April, the Department of Transportation proudly showed off the Land Transportation Office’s rehabilitated plate-making plant, boasting that the upgraded facility can produce as many as 22,000 license plates a day. Car owners who have been impatiently waiting for their plates will now be glad to know that the first fruits of the plant are already being shipped to the LTO’s district branches for a simultaneous nationwide release set for “the first week of July.”

This was announced by the DOTr today in a press statement that quotes LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante as saying: “The LTO will notify the vehicle owners on the dates they may claim their plates. We ask our clients to wait for their notification so they do not waste their time going to their LTO branch only to be disappointed.”

The first batch of these new license plates will be issued to car owners who registered their vehicles (or applied for the new plates) within July 1 to October 31, 2016. According to the statement, “a total of 387,000 pieces of motor vehicle plates” had been produced as of June 18.

For those who registered their vehicles or applied for the new-plate change before July 1, 2016, Galvante explained that his agency is “awaiting the Commission on Audit’s resolution on the disallowance.”

As for motorcycle plates, Galvante said: “We will produce the motorcycle plates as soon as Congress gives the go signal. Motorcycle owners are free to use their motorcycles as long as these are registered, with their respective plates or MV File Numbers displayed.”

The press statement concluded with a reminder from Galvante “not to patronize unauthorized persons who claim they can facilitate the release of the plates for a fee.” Wait…they really think car owners still care? Nah. We’re all just happy to be driving around in unidentifiable cars. Because it’s more fun in the Philippines.