LTO to issue temporary drivers’ licenses on paper due to plastic card shortage

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) may issue driver’s licenses on paper instead of plastic cards.

In a press conference held on Thursday, April 20, LTO chief Jay Art Tugade confirmed that there is an ongoing nationwide shortage on plastic cards. He added that there are a few offices that still have plastic cards on hand, which they predict to be completely exhausted until the last week of April. Specifically, they have only 147,522 plastic cards on hand as of April 20. 

“We are continuously re-allocating these cards para po ma-address ‘yung mga pangangailangan ng mga offices,” he said. 

With this, the government agency will temporarily issue official receipts to serve as valid driver’s licenses.  

The official receipt must contain the actual pictures of the license when printed out on plastic cards, along with a QR code to scan for authentication. 

Tugade also shared that they have informed law enforcers concerned such as the PNP Highway Patrol Group with regard to motorists' violations.

“Nakipagpulong na rin ang LTO sa mga law enforcer tulad ng PNP Highway Patrol Group upang maipabatid sa kanila na kung manghuhuli ng mga lumalabag sa batas-trapiko ay tanggapin na rin kung OR lamang ang ipapakita ng motorista,” he said. 

The shortage was a result of a department order they received in January that instructed them that all procurement involving P50 million and above should be conducted by the DOTr (Department of Transportation) central office. And while they are equally “as anxious” as everyone about the predicament, Tugade assures the public to issue licenses immediately once they have received the plastic cards. 

“Once ma-receive po namin ‘yung plastic cards, ‘pag na-procure na po ito ng DOTr, kayang kaya na po namin ma-print ‘yan at ma-distribute sa mga respective licensing holders.”