DOTr chief Bautista: Another vehicle plate shortage looms

Amid the shortage of plastic cards used for printing driver’s licenses, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Friday warned of another shortage in vehicle license plates.

“Posible na magkaroon na rin ng shortage… Sabi sa amin, ang plaka natin will be available until end June,” Bautista said in a virtual press conference.

“Kaya kailangan na rin natin magkaroon ng procurement,” he said.

Transportation Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Kim de Leon said the agency is calling for bids for at least 13 million vehicle license plates amounting to P5.2 billion.

“These include the backlog plates and the current requirements,” de Leon said.

The Land Transportation Office, last year, said it targets to clear up to 90% of its license plate backlogs by the end of 2023. There are 2.3 million backlogs for vehicle replacement plates and 11.5 million for motorcycle license plates.

On Thursday, LTO announced that it will print out drivers’ licenses on paper due to the shortage of plastic cards. —NB, GMA Integrated News