Driver's license backlog now at 690K —DOTr's Bautista

The backlog of driver’s license in the Land Transportation Office is now at around 690,000, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista told a Senate panel Thursday.

Currently, Bautista said the LTO only has around 70,000 cards nationwide but these are reserved for overseas Filipino workers who need a driver's license in their line of work.

“Right now, meron nang shortage ng driver’s licenses. As of today, we have only around 70,000 ID cards available nationwide and we’re reserving this for iyong mga OFW kasi kailangan nila iyong mga ID na iyon. Ang backlog nito ay inaabot ng 690,000,” Bautista said at a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing.

As a temporary measure, Bautista said the LTO had already extended the validity of licenses that became due starting April 24 until October 31.

“Ang ini-issue nila ngayon sa mga bagong driver na kumukuha ng driver’s license is initially an OR [officier receipt],” he said.

In another Senate hearing Wednesday, LTO officer-in-charge Hector Villacorta said  they see the backlogs on driver’s license cards addressed by the end of 2023 through an emergency purchase with National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

In April, LTO announced it would print out drivers' licenses on paper due to the shortage of plastic cards.

Villacorta earlier said that he plans to address the lack of license cards and license plates for motorcycles during his stint in the agency.—LDF, GMA Integrated News