Philippines’ LTO Seeks Swift Solution for Driver’s License Card Shortage

MANILA: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) of the Philippines is urgently seeking government assistance to address the imminent shortage of plastic cards for driver’s licenses. LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, announced at a press conference in Quezon City that they are considering an agency-to-agency deal to secure 6 million license cards as existing stocks are expected to run out by the end of the month.

According to Philippines News Agency, government printing offices have submitted their quotations, and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is expediting the approval process. He mentioned that with an average monthly demand of 550,000 licenses, the current inventory of 270,000 cards would only last for about two weeks. In the event of a failure to replenish the stock, the LTO plans to automatically extend the validity of expired driver’s licenses until April 2024. The procurement process also involves technical tests by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to ensure the quality and security features of the new cards. Meanwhile, the LTO is preparing to conduct licensing and registration caravans in local communities to alleviate the impact of the shortage.