Minister of Transportation: 130000 Plastic Driver's License Cards to be reissued in September

Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista (Bautista) said on Wednesday that drivers with a paper driver's license can obtain a physical driver's license plastic card by September.

Bautista said Tuesday that about 130000 physical driver's license cards are expected to be issued by September, when the shortage is expected to "normalize".

He said: "We expect to be able to issue physical cards next week, but the initial amount is relatively small. But by September this year, all driver's licenses to be issued will be delivered."

The shortage of plastic cards has led to a backlog in the issuance of driving licences, prompting the Land Transport Department office to temporarily issue paper licences.

Party said motorists without an actual plastic driving license card can obtain an electronic driving license (eDL) issued by the Land Transport Department through the LTMS portal.

Bautista said an electronic driver's license could be used as an alternative to ID card use, but added that license holders must still have a physical copy.

The first batch of driver's license cards will be distributed to overseas Filipino workers and new driver's license applicants.

Earlier, the Department of Transport and the Office of Land Transport said the shortage of 500000 plastic cards was expected to last until October. To this end, the authorities have extended the validity of driver's license cards that expire in April and after to the end of October this year.