In Central Visayas: Some 50,000 applicants yet to receive plastic driver’s license

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Office-7 said that around 50,000 applicants in Central Visayas are still waiting for their plastic driver's license.

"Dako-dako pa g'yud 'ta og backlog sa mga plastic driver's license, maybe around 50,000 applicants," said LTO-7 director Arnel Tancinco.

He said that currently, they are just putting a "temporary driver's license" mark on an applicant's official receipt.

 "Amoa lang 'sa tatakan ang ilang OR as temporary driver's license until moabot ang permanent license," he said.

He hopes that the plastic driver's license will be delivered soon since many applicants have been complaining.

 "Daghan na g'yud mga aplikante nga magyawyaw. Hopefully, with the new LTO leadership, ma-deliver na," he added.

Last year, there was a total backlog of 900,000 driver's licenses nationwide, according to a statement released by the Department of Transportation and Communication.

The lack of permanent driver's license was due to some problem with the supply contractor of the said IDs and with the LTO Central Office since last year.

The DOTC further stated that the LTO License Cards Supply Project was awarded to Allcard Plastics, whose P336.868-million bid was 25.3 percent lower than the P450 million budget for the contract.

Allcard is responsible for the delivery of five million pieces of license cards over a 12-month period.

The supply is intended to cover the demand for the next three years, the DOTC added.  (FREEMAN)