Fingers Crossed: More Plastic-Card Licenses Coming by July

Well, what do you know? There's a chance the Land Transportation Office (LTO) might actually able to bring in more driver's license cards by July as it had initially hoped for.

According to CNN Philippines, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has just awarded the bid for 5.2 million plastic cards to be used for driver's licenses. The agency expects the first million pieces to arrive in 30 to 60 days from June 26.

Also read: This Laminated Paper Driver's License Wouldn't Fit Into Your Wallet

“We expect the backlogs of the license cards to be addressed quickly. Our aim is to normalize the supply of the cards, so we will ensure that Banner [Plastic Card Inc.] deliver these cards efficiently,” Transportation Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Kim Robert De Leon said.

It can be recalled that the LTO issued temporary copies of driver's licenses printed on paper as they faced a shortage of plastic cards at the end of April (which, by the way, is too big to fit inside a wallet). The paper license looks like the plastic card version, but with the official receipt found at the back plus a unique QR code which traffic enforcers can scan in case of apprehension.

Also read: Driver's License Printed on Paper? What to Do Next, According to LTO

In May, the LTO hinted in a statement at a possible digital version of the driver's license soon, which will serve as an electronic alternative found in a "super app" that will be launched together with the Department of Information and Communications Technology. There's still no word on this up until now, however.

The DOTr also mentioned that the LTO only has 70,000 cards in its inventory, all of which are reserved for departing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). In any case, the validity of all driver's licenses expiring from the end of April has been extended to October to cope with this shortage.

Also read: Motorists, a Driver's License (Digital Version) Is Heading Your Way