The shortage of plastic cards for driver’s licenses will normalize by September with up to 130,000 unissued cards expected to be received by motorists.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista clarified on Tuesday that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) forecast of up to 500,000 plastic card shortage was until October in response to the latter’s Memorandum Circular extending the validity of driver’s licenses until October 31.
“Yung license natin we’re expecting delivery by next week, initially pakonti-konti lang ‘yan by September na-deliver na lahat ‘yung pending natin na dapat iisyu. As I have mentioned earlier and pending natin na hindi pa na-isyu na mga license ay nasa around 120 to 130,000 na,” Secretary Bautista said.
“Dati nagbigay tayo ng statement na almost 400-500,000 yung pending kasi isinama natin dito yung mga inextend natin up to October. Remember nung April 24 nagkaroon ng Memorandum Circular extending the validity of license expiring April 24 to October 31 by September pwede na natin iisyu ‘yung lahat ng mga license na ‘to,” he added.
The transport chief likewise cited the electronic driver’s license (eDL) issued by the LTO, which can be accessed by motorists via their LTMS Portal.
“Ang magandang balita pa ay na-implement na rin natin ‘yung ating tinatawag na digital license, yung mga wala pa talagang hawak na physical, they can see their license doon sa kanilang portal,” he said.
Secretary Bautista stressed that e-DLs can be used as alternative identification cards, adding that driver’s license holders must also have a physical copy.
Motorists who were issued paper licenses may already get their physical license cards by August or September, according to Secretary Bautista.
“Siguro bandang august or by September lahat ‘yan mabibigay na namin,” he said.
