FILE PHOTO: A Land Transportation Office (LTO) staff member shows a brand new student driver’s license at the LTO Quezon City District Office in Centris Station. The LTO is currently facing a supply shortage of plastic cards for driver’s licenses. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
MANILA, Philippines — Land Transportation Office (LTO) head Vigor Mendoza II said Tuesday that drivers whose licenses expired from April to August 2023 should now apply for renewal as plastic cards are already available.
According to Mendoza, drivers should renew and claim their plastic license cards from April 16 to 30 because those who fail to do so will face penalties.
“‘Yong mga na-expire last year ng April tsaka ‘yong mga nag-expire na po no’ng nakaraang taon ng Abril hanggang Agosto of last year, renew ‘yong kanilang lisensiya, at kunin ‘yong plastic card po nila,” Mendoza said in an interview with Radyo 630.
(Drivers whose licenses had expired from April to August 2023 must renew their licenses and get their plastic cards.)
READ: LTO releases schedule for renewal of plastic-printed driver’s licenses
Mendoza also said that only motorists with expired licenses from April to August 2023 may claim plastic cards because the available supply was enough for them.
The LTO previously said that as of March 2024, its backlog was at 4.1 million driver’s license plastic cards.
“Supply side kasi hindi naman isang bagsakan lang pinapadala sa atin ng ating supplier,“ Mendoza said.
(It’s the supply side because our supplier does not deliver it in one go.)
READ: LTO sees end of driver’s license card shortage
“In fact, ang na-supply sa atin is 1.6 million out of 3.2 million, so hindi nation, on the supply side, kaya i-cater lahat ng backlog na 4.1 million in one blow,” he added.
(In fact, what was delivered to us is 1.6 million out of 3.2 million, so we, on the supply side, cannot cater to all the backlog na 4.1 million in one blow.)
The LTO chief likewise said that another reason for the scheduled release was to prevent crowding and long lines on site.
On March 25, the LTO announced lifting a writ of preliminary injunction from the Court of Appeals for the delivery of plastic cards amid a shortage.