MANILA — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) expects all its regional offices nationwide to issue drivers’ license cards with five-year validity by November.
According to LTO chief Edgar Galvante, the issuance of license cards has been ongoing in Metro Manila, Regions 11 and 3,.
“Our concern presently is the intermittent Internet connection in some of our offices which affects the process of printing out driver’s licenses. Nevertheless, we are doing all our efforts to address this,” Galvante said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.
The LTO chief said the equipment, which print out the 5 year validity licenses, are targeted to be installed in its satellite offices in Regions 7, 8, 9, 2, 5 and 1 while the rest will be done within this month.
“By November, we expect that all regions have been issuing license cards already,” according to Galvante.
Meanwhile, the LTO-National Capital Region has opened its kiosks in SM North EDSA, SM Fairview, SM Manila, SM Marikina, SM Southmall, SM Cherry Antipolo for the printing and distribution of the 5-year license cards.
Two offsite kiosks at Araneta Avenue and SM Marikina were also launched on Oct. 6.
Negotiations with other mall owners are ongoing to open more kiosks to facilitate the distribution of the license cards.
The LTO said it has a backlog of 3.6 million drivers’ and conductors’ licenses issued through paper licenses or official receipts (OR) covering the period of Oct. 10, 2016 to Aug. 28, 2017.
Of the 3.6 million backlog of paper licenses, 1.2 million are from Metro Manila. The agency launched its rollout of the 5-year license cards on Aug. 29.
The licenses are now tamper-proof as they are laser-engraved in polycarbonate material that is more durable and hard to copy. They have biometric features under the Automated Fingerprint Identification System to ensure uniqueness of every card produced and added information to complete the necessary personal details of the licensee such as blood type, holder options as organ donor, and the person to be notified in case of emergency, including the contact numbers. (PNA)
