PH Society of Medicine for Drivers to donate 4 million plastic cards to LTO

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) previously said that it has secured around four million plastic cards to be used in producing driver’s licenses. Now, the agency revealed that the new plastic cards were donated by the Philippine Society of Medicine for Drivers (PSMED).

PSMED to give 4 million plastic cards to LTO

LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II has entered into an agreement with PSMED for the “unconditional donation” of four million pieces of plastic cards that will be used in the printing of driver’s licenses. Mendoza signed the agreement with PSMED President Dr. Albert Alegre.

The Deed of Donation states that 300,000 plastic cards will be delivered to the agency 21 days after the LTO issues an authority to the supplier of the donor to use the design of the LTO driver’s license. This is expected to be done in the first week of January 2024.   

It is also stated that 300,000 plastic cards will be delivered every 15 days after the first delivery is completed, and 100,000 pieces for the last delivery until the four million pieces of plastic cards are completed.  

The LTO said that PSMED’s donation was consulted with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista. The agency added that the DOTr reviewed the donation process thoroughly.  

No more paper-printed driver's licenses

As such, LTO Chief Mendoza reiterated that new applications and renewal of driver’s licenses will now be issued with plastic cards, ending the issuance of a paper-printed license. This donation is said to be enough to address the LTO’s backlog on driver’s licenses. 

“On behalf of the men and women of the LTO and the Filipino people, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to the Philippine Society of Medicine for Drivers headed by Dr. Albert Alegre for this generous donation which we consider as an early Christmas gift to millions of our clients,” said Mendoza.

“This donation is timely as it came at a time when we in the LTO are facing a serious challenge of addressing the backlog and daily usage of plastic-printed driver’s license amid the uncertainty on the outcome of the legal battle on the plastic cards that the LTO procured early this year,” Mendoza added.

Unconditional donation

PSMED President Alegre noted that the donation was approved by its members and officials. He explained that PSMED decided to donate plastic cards as the LTO is facing legal obstacle in addressing the backlog on driver’s licenses. 

Alegre shared that PSMED is an advocate of “efficient land transportation services that include the issuance of driver’s license to qualified drivers and applicants.”   

“We cannot just close our eyes on the issue of plastic card shortage when we know that we are capable of alleviating the concerns of millions of motorists of having expired licenses and paper-printed driver’s licenses” Alegre added.

LTO Chief Mendoza clarified that the four million plastic cards that will be donated by PSMED are at par with the technical specifications of the current driver’s license cards. He added that if there are cards from the four million donation that were rejected by the security system, all of them would be deemed undelivered and would be replaced at no cost to the DOTr and the LTO.

Visit Philkotse.com for more automotive news.