Car owner’s dilemma over plate numbers

My multitasking business requires me to be on the road every day.  As my old car bears a plate number ending in 1 (bawal ’pag Monday), I was forced to buy another car, with a request to the dealer for a conduction sticker ending in 8.

When time came for the release of my new car plates, I was dismayed to find that they ended in 2 (bawal din ’pag Monday)!  What was I supposed to do? Buy another car?

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) used to allow motorists to choose which last digit they preferred to have on their new car plates in view of the number coding. But because of perceptions of  “garapalang lagayan,” it has scrapped that option and now releases those plates at random.

Thus, given my misfortune (and, surely, many others’), does it really require rocket science to see the consequences of the LTO’s brainless way of doing public service? Why could it not simply allot the new plates in accordance with the last digit found in conduction stickers?

It is not as if all motorists are jostling for the same number, thereby leaving the other numbers in storage forever.  May we please hear from the “bright boys” of the LTO?

YVETTE SAN LUIS-PETROCELLI, [email protected]