One-year wait for driver’s license card not true, says LTO chief

Land Transportation Office chief Edgar Galvante on Thursday clarified that getting a driver's license card will not take a year, contrary to some complainants.

"Ine-emphasize ko, hindi totoo 'yung sinasabing isang taon silang maghihintay," Galvante said in an interview on Unang Balita.

He admitted though that processing may be delayed due to system glitches, slow Internet connection, and the volume of people.

"Dahil medyo bago ang sistema, nagkakaroon ng glitches once in a while. Nire-review nga namin lagi ang procedure. In fact, yesterday dito sa Metro Manila, hinanap natin 'yung mga nire-report na mga problema para malaman kung anong naging problema," he said.

Galvante said the actual process should take only five to eight minutes.

"'Yung proseso mismo, actually inaabot ng five to eight minutes. Ang nagkakaproblema lang, dinadagsa. May mga oras kami, halos, halimbawa kahapon sa Central Office, alas-kuwatro pa lang, wala ng kliyente. Sa iba naman, dinadagsa kaya kailangan mag-antay sila," he said.

"At nagkakaroon lang ng pagbagal kung 'yung makina nagkakaroon ng konting diperensiya at 'yung Internet connection napuputol o nagdi-disconnect," Galvante explained.

The LTO chief said they talked with Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Company to ask if they can be given a dedicated line. PLDT said they could have that done but LTO will have to pay an additional fee, he said.

Galvante then called on those saying that procuring a driver's license will take a year, to go to his office.

"'Yung mga nagsasabing aabutin ng isang taon, dumulog sila sa opisina para gusto kong malaman kung ano 'yong dahilan at sinabihan sila ng isang taon. Hindi mangyayari 'yon," he said.

Galvante added that the LTO is targeting to finish the backlog in driver's license processing in three to four months.

"Ang target natin for the whole Philippines, within three to four months maubos lahat ng backlog, be able to attend to current, 'yung mga nagpapa-renew ng current," he said.

Galvante said although the entire process would take only 10 minutes from the time a person appears at the window of an LTO counter, other factors come into play, such as volume of people. When this happens, people have to fall in line as they observe a first come, first serve policy. PWDs, senior citizens, and overseas Filipino workers however are prioritized.

The LTO chief said their offices are open as early as 6 a.m. LTO offices also remain open as long as there are people in line. Some offices end up closing at 9 p.m., he said.

When there is a big crowd at a particular licensing office, LTO personnel may ask some of the clients to go to nearby LTO offices that are less crowded, he added. —KG, GMA News