LTO to extend driver’s licenses by one year

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is set to extend the validity of driver’s licenses up to June 2024 as its plastic card supply deal faces a bump on the road.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza said yesterday that the agency is set to release a memorandum granting an automatic one-year extension for driver’s licenses that expired in June 2023 “in anticipation of the worst-case scenario.”

The extension will be valid for one year or until lifted by the LTO once the license card situation normalizes.

The LTO is facing a legal battle over its P240-million plastic card contract after a losing bidder questioned the deal before a Quezon City court.

A Quezon City regional trial court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the contract, wherein winning bidder Banner Plasticard Inc. was supposed to deliver a total of 5.2 million cards by Feb. 21 next year.

“Our supplier cannot move because of the TRO,” Mendoza said.

The TRO will expire today if the court does not issue a preliminary injunction against the deal, after which the supplier could deliver the plastic cards, he noted.

Mendoza said that that the LTO will inform law enforcers, including the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, of the extension order once it is issued.

Meanwhile, the LTO also vowed to review the enforcement of temporary operators’ permit or TOP.

He said he noted that policies regarding the TOP, which should be valid for 72 hours from apprehension, should be harmonized with Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01, which provides for the revised schedule of fines and penalties.