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MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Saturday said it will no longer issue paper-printed driver’s licenses after four million plastic cards were secured for delivery.
The LTO said the number is “more than enough” to wipe out the backlog on driver’s licenses, as well as sustain the plastic cards needed for new applications.
The LTO noted in a press release that with the Department of Transportation, the plastic cards were secured and are expected to be delivered starting next month.
“The delivery of these four million plastic cards is enough to address both the backlog and the daily usage through application and renewal of driver’s license,” LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said in a statement.
“So we would like to announce to our clients, to the Filipino people na wala nang lisensyang papel! Balik-plastic na lisensya na tayo!” he added.
(So we would like to announce to our clients, to the Filipino people, that there will be no more paper-printed licenses. We are back on issuing plastic cards.)
Meanwhile, according to the agency, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) elevated the injunction order issued by the Quezon City court to the Court of Appeals. The order was in connection with the delivery of the 3.3 million plastic cards procured earlier this year.
Mendoza said that if the Court of Appeals would rule in favor of the OSG petition, the over three million plastic cards would be an addition to the number of available plastic cards.
The chief likewise said that the development regarding the four million plastic cards is like an early “Christmas gift” to motorists, and that he is hopeful that by February next year, the 3.3 million plastic cards delayed by the injunction will be a “Valentine’s Day” gift to Filipinos.
“Kaya sa pagpunta ng ating mga kababayan para mag-apply at mag-renew ng kanilang driver’s license, hindi na sila mangangamba na baka ang ma-issue sa kanila ay papel na lisensya,” Mendoza said.
(So when our fellow countrymen apply or renew their driver’s licenses, they no longer need to worry that they might be issued a paper license.)
“Wala na po yan, lahat ay magkakaroon na ng plastic na driver’s license,” he added.
(That’s no longer the case, everyone will now have plastic driver’s licenses.)
As for license plates, the LTO said around one million metal plates are being produced monthly.
The backlog on license plates for four-wheel vehicles was “already wiped out” Mendoza said.