LTO: We have enough plastic cards supply, renew driver’s licenses before Nov. 6

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 5) — After temporarily issuing driver’s licenses printed in paper, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said it now has enough supply of plastic cards to start clearing backlogs this October.

LTO Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza said the agency is lifting its earlier order to extend renewal period for licenses that expired from April 1 to 30, 2023.

“Binibigyan namin sila until Nov. 6 of this year para i-renew na nila yung kanilang lisensya. Meron na kaming sapat na driver’s license cards para mag-issue po sakanila,” Mendoza said in a press briefing Thursday.

[Translation: We give them until Nov. 6 of this year to renew their licenses. We already have enough driver's license cards to issue them.]

The office's previous extension gave holders until April 2024 to renew their expired licenses.

LTO said those who cannot renew on or before Nov. 6 will already need to pay the penalties given to those with expired licenses.

Meanwhile, Mendoza said those issued with “paper licenses” after paying their fee could go to the LTO branch they applied from and trade for a plastic card copy.

A shortage in plastic card supplies earlier prompted authorities to release temporary licenses printed on paper — a move that received backlash from many citizens.

Mendoza says those with paper licenses only need to show their receipts to get their plastic card copies.

LTO said it also set separate deadlines for licenses that expired in the following months after April 2023.

“Ginawa nating staggard, hindi natin sinabay sabay…Ayaw natin na bigla-bigla na lang na lahat ay pupunta sa ating district offices, chances are hahaba yung pila. We’d like to avoid na magkaroon ng long queues,” Mendoza said.

[Translation: We made it staggard, we didn't set it at the same time… We don't want everyone to go to our district offices all of a sudden, chances are the queue will be long. We'd like to avoid having long queues.]

LTO also said the agency may be able to clear the 2.4 million backlog in pending licenses by March 2024 and vehicle plates by 2025.