MANILA, Philippines — With the expected delivery of plastic cards in the coming days, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is looking to resume the issuance of driver’s licenses this month.
“We are preparing for the resumption in the delivery of plastic driver’s licenses. We are putting in place the distribution system on how to deliver to license holders as soon as possible,” LTO chief Vigor Mendoza said on Wednesday.
“In fact, the new method we are looking at right now is the passport style using courier service. So if you renew your license, you can opt to have your card delivered to you,” Mendoza added.
He said the donation of four million plastic cards had been scrapped.
“That’s no longer an option,” Mendoza said.
The LTO previously announced that the Philippine Society of Medicine for Drivers was donating four million plastic cards to the agency.
The LTO has been issuing paper driver’s licenses while waiting for the delivery of the plastic cards.
“We are optimistic that the licenses will be fixed this month,” Mendoza said.
According to Mendoza, the LTO needs at least 600,000 plastic cards every month as the agency targets a total of 12 million plastic cards for this year.
He also said measures are being done to hasten the delivery of license plates amid delays in the distribution of car dealers.
E-bikes require registration
Meanwhile, the LTO said users of electric tricycles and e-bikes along major roads are required to register their vehicles and secure a driver’s license.
Mendoza said the LTO is expected to issue guidelines amid efforts to regulate electricity-operated light vehicles.
He noted that under Republic Act 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, only e-trikes and e-bikes traversing private roads or subdivisions are not covered by the mandatory registration.
Mendoza added that users of e-tricycles and e-bicycles also need to secure license plate numbers when registering these vehicles.
Earlier, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announced that e-bikes and e-trikes would be banned from traversing major thoroughfares beginning April 15.