Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Saturday said it will no longer issue license cards printed on paper after it has secured 4 million plastic cards to address the driver’s license backlog.
“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 Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza said in a statement.
He added that should the Court of Appeals grant the petition to resume the release of plastic cards, an additional 3.3 million would be delivered starting January 2024.
In October, a Quezon City Regional Trial Court granted the petition of AllCard Inc. to stop the delivery of plastic cards by winning bidder Banner Plasticard Inc.
AllCard Inc. was disqualified from bidding for the supply deal despite having the lowest bid of ₱176.85 million, which is far cheaper than the winning bid of ₱240.1 million.
The same court also granted another petition by AllCard Inc. and issued a 20-day temporary restraining order in August, placing 1.7 million backlogs in limbo.
The shortage in plastic cards prompted authorities to issue temporary licenses printed on paper.
LTO said the validity of driver’s licenses that expired in November 2023 onward will be extended until April 2 next year.
