LTO: Shortage on driver’s license plastic cards possible yet again

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced that the Quezon City regional trial court might halt the release of driver’s license cards if a writ of preliminary injunction (WPI) is granted in favor of its previous card supplier, Allcard, Inc.

Another round of driver's license shortages could happen

A preliminary injunction allows concerned parties to present their cases before the judge makes a final decision. This is the card Allcard is going to put into play after the expiry of its 20-day restraining order against the LTO and Banner Plasticards Inc. - the agency’s current plastic card supplier. In response, the  LTO is planning to file a motion for consideration to the court of appeals via the official office of the solicitor general if the WPI goes into effect.

If this injunction isn’t stopped in its tracks, the LTO might have to return to the use of paper for issuing driver’s licenses. But as of last week, LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza II says that AllCard Inc. has yet to file a bond which is required for the WPI to push through. 

With the aim to stop the delivery of plastic cards to LTO offices, the WPI does not expire until the court makes a decision on the case. In turn, the government agency can only release driver’s licenses that expired in May and June.

“But until such time na magkaroon ng reversal o panibagong order galing sa mga korte, kapag naging effective itong WPI, we will be forced to comply,” said Mendoza II.

(But until such time a reversal or a new order is released by the court, if the WPI takes effect, we will be forced to comply).

Of note, Banner Plasticard, Inc., has produced around 1.9 million cards so far, addressing the shortage announced earlier this year. This supplier is capable of issuing 500,000 to 600,000 licenses per month. The total package is 5.2 million cards so the supplier still needs to produce around 3.3 million cards.

The agency could return to the use of paper driver's licenses

To avoid such inconvenience from possibly happening again, the LTO has urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to start the bidding for next year. Mendoza II said the next plastic card contract will consist of 4.6 million plastic cards – which should be enough supply for nine months beginning January next year.

Another initiative is the domestic use of electronic driver’s licenses (e-licenses). The LTO technical working group is studying whether e-licenses are a viable long-term solution for the driver’s license shortage.

The use of e-licenses is on the cards

While crises await driver’s licenses yet again, LTO is on track with the distribution of motor vehicle license plates. The agency said it can now produce one million plates every month.

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