LTO: End driver’s license backlog next month

MANILA, Philippines — Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Jay Art Tugade has directed all licensing centers nationwide to address the backlog in issuing driver’s licenses by January next year.

Tugade has issued a memorandum outlining the guidelines for printing and issuing driver’s licenses to address the increasing backlog.

“All backlogs shall be completely addressed not later than Jan. 15, 2023,” he said in the memorandum addressed to regional directors, division chiefs, district offices and all officials and employees under the LTO.

The memorandum was signed by Tugade on Dec. 9 but only released recently.

The backlog in driver’s licenses reached 92,000 cards at the beginning of this month.

Tugade noted that the backlog is due to the lack of functional laser engravers and ongoing repairs of defective units at several centers all over the counry.

Under the guidelines, motorists should be referred to the nearest most accessible LTO office with working laser engravers.

LTO clients may also opt to undergo the end-to-end process, which includes capturing biometrics but without the issuance of the driver’s license card on the same day.

The motorist shall be issued a printed official receipt valid for 30 days.

The concerned LTO office should then coordinate with other centers to ensure that the driver’s license card will be printed out within a week.

Tugade said they are awaiting the parts for the laser printers that bogged down due to sensitivity and possible wear and tear due to excessive use.