LTO-7 now issuing new driver’s license but only in two offices yet

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Office-7 has started issuing new driver’s license but only at the Cebu City Licensing Office and Mandaue City Licensing Office.

LTO-7 director Arnel Tancinco said they are printing licenses during Saturdays and after office hours on weekdays.  He said this is done in order to eliminate the current backlog of around 22,000 driver’s licenses in Central Visayas where majority are in Cebu.

Currently, there is a total backlog of 900,000 driver’s licenses nationwide, according to a statement released by the Department of Transportation and Communication.

Tancinco said LTO will print the permanent driver’s licenses by batch.

 The lack of permanent driver’s license was due to some problem with the supply contractor and with the LTO Central Office since last year.

 The DOTC statement added that the LTO License Cards Supply Project was awarded to Allcard Plastics, whose P336.868 million bid was 25.3 percent lower than the P450 million budget for the contract.  DOTC added that Allcard is responsible for the delivery of five million license cards over a 12-month period. The supply is intended to cover the demand for the next three years.—(FREEMAN)