DOTr: Supply of plastic license cards to "normalize" by Sept 2023

The ongoing driver's license issues may finally be put to rest.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista has announced that the shortage of driver’s license (DL) cards will “normalize” within the next few months, more specifically, by September.

“The plastic cards, we’re expecting delivery by next week. Initially, deliveries will be low volume but we expect deliveries of all pending driver’s licenses by September. As I have mentioned earlier, pending unissued driver’s licenses is around 120,000 to 130,000,” said Bautista.

_{e-DL can be accessed through LTO's LTMS portal}

Bautista also clarified that DOTr and LTO's forecast of up to 500,000 plastic card shortage was until October in response to the latter’s Memorandum Circular extending the validity of driver’s licenses until October 31.

“We’ve [also] mentioned earlier that almost 400,000 to 500,000 cards are pending because we included those who were extended [expiration] up to October. Remember back in April 24 we created a Memorandum Circular extending the validity of licenses expiring April 24 to October 31. We should be able to issue these licenses by September,” added Bautista.

Secretary Bautista also cited that the electronic version of driver’s licenses (e-DL) can now be accessed through LTO’s Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) portal. The e-DL can be used as alternative identification cards, adding that driver’s license holders must also have a physical copy. To know more about the e-DL, read our feature story here.

Motorists who were issued paper licenses may already get their physical license cards by August or September, according to Secretary Bautista.