The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has turned down a donation of 4 million plastic cards for driver’s licenses valued at PHP160 million from the Philippine Society of Medicine for Drivers, an accredited clinic of the LTO.
LTO spokesperson Jamie Santos stated concerns about potential favors associated with the donation, emphasizing the need for transparency.
A Guide About LTO’s Electronic Driver’s Licenses
LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Mendoza revealed plans to seek guidance from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on developing donation acceptance guidelines. The donation, aimed at alleviating the current backlog of 2.6 million driver’s licenses, awaits a decision pending DOTr consultation.
Issues arose in August 2023 when a court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing the LTO from receiving plastic cards from contractor Banner PlastiCard due to complaints from the losing bidder, AllCard Inc. Approximately 3.2 million plastic cards were affected by the TRO.
READ: Delivery of Plastic Driver’s Licenses Temporarily Suspended
To address the plastic card shortage, the LTO enlisted the National Printing Office to produce around 6 million cards, resorting to printing licenses on paper temporarily.
How will the LTO navigate these obstacles and ensure a smooth process for drivers awaiting licenses?
ManilaShaker is a tech media producing insightful and helpful content for our local and growing international audience. Our goal is to create a premier Philippine digital consumer electronics resource that provides the most objective reviews and comparisons globally.
