LTO releases 7,500 plastic driver’s license cards

MANILA, Philippines - After years of delays, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) yesterday handed out at least 7,500 plastic license cards on its first day of printing and distribution in Metro Manila.

LTO executive director Romeo Vera Cruz said the number of the served clients on the first day exceeded their expectation, which they only pegged at around 5,000 customers.

He added that the first day of distribution was “very successful,” as there were no major glitches reported in the 36 LTO offices in the National Capital Region (NCR).  

Vera Cruz said they expect more motorists to line up for their license cards in the following days.

He cleared that only motorists who applied for the renewal of their driver’s license from January to October this year can claim their plastic license cards.

The LTO is looking to wipe out the current three-million backlog in the plastic license cards with three-year validity by February.

This comes after the agency signed a P186-million three-month deal with its last provider, Allcard Plastics Philippines Inc., to supply three million cards.

The awarding of the contract was done through the alternative mode of procurement last November as a way to solve the current backlog.

AllCard was tapped as it is the exclusive distributor of consumables that are compatible with current printing machines, of which 36 have been distributed to the 24 LTO district offices and 12 driver’s license renewal offices in the NCR.

Those who have renewed licenses with five-year validity or are about to apply for their licenses could expect their plastic license cards by April next year, Vera Cruz added.

There is a current backlog of one million for the five-year licenses.

The contract to supply plastic cards for the five-year licenses is expected to be awarded through regular competitive bidding by the first quarter of next year.