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MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) started on Tuesday the nationwide distribution of plastic-printed drivers’ licenses, with the first one handed out by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista at the LTO central office in Quezon City.
It was the first plastic license to be issued since October last year after the Court of Appeals lifted an order last month stopping the delivery of plastic cards to the agency.
READ: LTO: Plastic cards ready for expired April-Aug 2023 driver’s licenses
By Monday, the LTO had received 1.6 million, or half of the 3.2 million pieces of plastic cards, it procured last year from winning bidder Banner Plastics Card Inc., which was awarded another contract on Tuesday for an additional 6.5 million plastic cards.
Backlog addressed
“With the 6.5 million plastic cards we procured, and the incoming 3.2 million from last year, this will be more than enough to cover the 4.1 million backlog from last year, as well as to fill in our requirements for this year,” LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said.
According to Mendoza, the delivery of the additional plastic cards would ensure continuity in the agency’s efforts to address the backlog in plastic-printed driver’s licenses.