5 M driver’s license cards set for release

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Office (LTO) targets to release five million driver’s license cards before president-elect Rodrigo Duterte assumes office on June 30.

AllCard Plastics Philippines Inc. bagged the P336-million contract for the driver’s license project of LTO in 2015.

“Five million cards are included in the contract of AllCard. That is a mix of professional, non-professional and student driver’s license cards. So we’re hitting already 4.5 million cards,” said outgoing LTO director Roberto Cabrera.

He said the driver’s license cards are ready to be delivered to other LTO regional offices for distribution.

This came after the Manila regional trial court (RTC) lifted the writ of preliminary injunction against the LTO’s project with AllCard.

Cabrera also said that he has wiped out the 700,000 backlog of driver’s license that was left by former LTO chief Alfonso Tan Jr., who resigned in late 2015.

Cabrera said the backlog was resolved after he made an emergency procurement, following the Manila RTC’s order.

The LTO is now computing the amount it needs to pay AllCard because the court allowed them to continue the project.