LTO rolls out five-year driver’s licenses

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Office (LTO) yesterday started the distribution of driver’s licenses with five-year validity.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade led the ceremonial roll-out of the new driver’s license at the LTO central office along East Avenue in Quezon City.

Tugade was briefed by LTO chief Edgar Galvante on the renewal of license cards. Addressing LTO employees, Tugade said it took him around eight to nine minutes before he received his license.

Tugade would have obtained his license card in four to five minutes but it took longer after he intentionally put a wrong entry on his application.

“I want to look at the process if it will correct the mistake,” he said.

The card is made of polycarbonate material and laser-engraved. It has 32 security features, with 22 at the front and 10 at the back, which would make more difficult for forgers to replicate, according to Galvante.

“This is unlike the previous one where the pictures and markings easily fade. This can last for more than 10 years,” he told reporters.

Galvante said they would distribute the driver’s license for new applicants and those who applied for renewal in Metro Manila.

The LTO processes around 300 to 400 applications and renewals daily.

“As they come to renew or apply for a new license, at the end of the process their license cards will be issued to them,” Galvante said.

The backlog of 3.6 million applications for driver’s licenses since October 2016, when paper receipts were issued, will be addressed next month, according to Galvante.

Of this number, about one million are from Metro Manila.

The first that would be processed are applications at the National Capital Region followed by Region 3, Region 4-A and Region 11 in the middle of September and the rest of the country by October.

“After one week, we will make announcements,” Galvante said.