LTO: 4 million driver's license cards set to address backlog

At least 4 million plastic driver's license cards are being prepared for nationwide distribution in 2024, the Land and Transportation Office (LTO) announced Thursday. 

According to Raffy Tima's report on 24 Oras, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza said the number of ID cards is expected to be enough to wipe out the current backlog. 

"So we'll make the announcement tomorrow or by Monday. 'Yung mga magre-renew, and maaasahan nila ‘di na papel. We are back on track as long as plastic cards are concerned," he said.

(Those who will renew should not expect paper [licenses] anymore.) 

Every year, six and a half million new licenses are issued by the LTO. 

An accelerated bidding and a government-to-government license printing agreement entered by the LTO hopes to eliminate the backlog.

For those buying a new car, the LTO advised motorists to have their license plate, official receipt and certificate of registration (OR/CR) ready at least three days before getting the vehicle. 

The LTO also vowed to immediately issue a show cause order against the car dealership or their regional LTO offices that are slow in processing license plates. 

"Nandyan na yung mga plaka e, advanced tayo e. Repositioning na tayo sa mga regions, so there's no reason why na hindi dapat lumabas ang plaka kagad," said Mendoza. 

(The license plates are here, we're already advanced. We are repositioning in the regions, so there's no reason why the plates shouldn't be issued on time.) –Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News