Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 23) – Drivers whose licenses will expire in the next three months will most likely have to use the paper-based official receipt (OR) as a temporary driver’s license.
The Land Transportation Office on Monday said it only has 1.8 million plastic cards left as a court case delays the delivery of new cards.
“Six hundred thousand of that (plastic cards) will be used this October, so ang matitira sa atin for November and December will be 1.3 million,” LTO Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza told reporters. “Sapat lang iyon para matugunan yung mga lisensya na nag-expire noong Mayo at June,”
[Traslation: 600 thousand of that will be used this October, so 1.3 million will be left for November and December. That is only enough for the licenses that expired last May and June.]
Mendoza said LTO is currently issuing around 30,000 licenses a day, prioritizing OFWs and other applicants who are required to present licenses for work in the use of plastic cards.
Supplier All Cards, Inc. sued the LTO for allegedly giving undue favor to winning bidder Banner Plasticard Inc. in the award of a contract for the purchase of 5.2 million pieces of plastic cards that will be used for licenses.
A regional trial court in Quezon City recently issued a writ of preliminary injunction which would put procurement on hold indefinitely or until further orders from the court.
“So mangyayare dyan kung mag-aapply kayo for renewal, ang ibibigay sa inyo yung OR tapos nakastamp doon na automatic extended until 2024,” Mendoza said.
[Translation: What will happen is that when you apply for a renewal, you will be handed an OR with a stamp that said the validity is automatically extended until 2024.]
RELATED: Validity of driver’s license extended for one year – LTO
However, Mendoza said the writ of injunction is not yet in effect as the complainant has yet to post the required ₱6 million bond.
He added that the LTO will appeal the injunction.
The current license backlog is at 2.2 million.
