LTO starts release of 5-year driver's licenses in Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Drivers in Mindanao can now avail of licenses with a five-year validity after the Land Transportation Office started issuing them on Wednesday.

 

The rollout of five-year licenses in Mindanao came more than two months after the LTO Central Office in Quezon City started distribution in the National Capital Region on August 29.

 

Aminula Abaton, a lawyer and LTO regional director, said motorists who have renewed their licenses but still have “license papers” will be issued plastic cards at the LTO branches in Mindanao. New applicants will also get the plastic licenses.

 

Abaton explained that the rollout of the more secure license cards was implemented by area because of a system adjustment between its IT service providers.

 

Nurhuda Nurulla, licensing division head for the LTO regional office in Zamboanga City, said the holders of the official license receipts can now have these papers processed to get the five-year plastic licenses.

 

Nurulla said the rolling out of the plastic license cards will be done by batches and priority will be given to those already given paper receipts. The LTO has a backlog of 23,000 licenses in the Zamboanga Peninsula alone.

 

Nationwide, the LTO's backlog is at 3.6 million licenses.