From my own experience. RoRo from Dumaguete to Dapitan there is a paper check. However Maayo shipping operating RoRo between Sibulan and Lilo An and Tampi and Bato never do any check on that.
Same here. Bought new. Now have to wait 3 months + for temporary plates. Normal unfortunately. Always the same.
I bought 3 scooters/motorcycles in the past 2 years, 1 in Mindoro (Calapan), 1 in Siquijor and one in DUmaguete. All took 3-5 months to register. Nobody ever cared. I got stopped in checkpoints during those periods - Not one officer cared. The dealership will give you a waiver to sign that it's not their responsibility and a for registration license plate. Just bring all papers like bill of sale and all that for official stuff - But You have to carry that anyway afaik.
Bought a bike in September. Got a letter from the dealer first that insurance and registration is o.k. After 3 months I got my temp plate. Never had any issues and I don’t know anybody who had. Obviously it’s quiet normal here and nobody cares as long as you can proof ownership and insurance. Maybe you get fined only in case you start a fight with the police officer. You will not win anyway.
Bought a new Kymco in September, 2016. Had the usual "For Registration" plate and the dealership gave me letters of authorization to operate on the roads (each one only good for one (maybe two) week, but they gave me two at a time so I didn't have to go back every week for a new letter.) Left to visit the US two months later and, when I returned in January, 2017, the dealer the registration available for me, but no plate (of course.) Went to a printer and had a plate printer with the number on the registration papers. That seemed fine to me and I didn't care that I still had no official plate since I had the registration and didn't have to visit the dealer every two weeks. One year later about February, 2018, the dealer sends a notice that they had my plate. So I went there and found out that the entire system had changed and the plate they gave me was still a temporary with their name on it and paperwork to go with it. I said I had the government issued registration and store-bought tags, but that seemed to fall on deaf ears. They said I needed to put their temp tag on and carry the new paperwork until the permanent tags were available. HUH? So, I did that and carry the store-bought tag and government registration along with me anyway. Over two years since purchase and still no permanent tag.