LTO sets new schedule for driver's license renewal

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has released a schedule for the renewal of expired driver's licenses after getting sufficient supply of plastic cards.

After six months of issuing licenses on paper due to the shortage of plastic cards, LTO had scheduled six renewal dates for driver’s licenses that expired from April 1 to September 30, following the delivery of more plastic cards in the past few weeks.

“Meron na po tayong sapat na bilang ng plastic cards to cover the printing of the driver’s licenses that expired mula April 1 hanggang September 30 dahil sa tulong ng ating Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista ay mas pinadami ang production at mas pinabilis ang delivery para ma-address na natin ang backlog sa driver’s license,” said LTO chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II.

(We now have a sufficient number of plastic cards to cover the printing of the driver's licenses that expired from April 1 to September 30, with the help of our Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, the production was increased and the delivery was accelerated to address our driver's license backlog.)

Under the memorandum issued by Mendoza on October 4, the following are the scheduled dates of renewal:

• For Driver’s License that expired from April 1 to 30, the scheduled renewal dates are from October 6-31, 2023;
• For Driver’s License that expired from May 1-31, 2023, the scheduled renewal dates are from November 1-30, 2023;
• For Driver’s License that expired from June 1-30, 2023, the scheduled renewal dates are from December 1-31, 2023;
• For Driver’s License that expired from July 1-31, 2023, the scheduled renewal dates are from January 1-31, 2024;
• For Driver’s License that expired from August 1-31, 2023, the scheduled renewal dates are from February 1-29, 2024;
• For Driver’s License that expired from September 1-30, 2023, the scheduled renewal dates are from March 1-31, 2024.

Mendoza earlier explained the scheduled dates are to avoid congestion in all LTO offices across the country.

“Ang iniiwasan natin dito ay dahil nga may plastic card na ay biglang bugso ng tao sa ating mga opisina para mag-renew. Gusto nating magkaroon ng sistema upang mabilis at komportable sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.

(What we are trying to avoid here is the sudden rush of people to our offices since we now have plastic cards. We want a fast and comfortable system for our fellow citizens.)

For individuals who have renewed their licenses and were only given paper-printed driver’s license, Mendoza said they could go back to the licensing office and present the receipt of their payment for the issuance of the plastic version.

The LTO earlier extended the validity of all driver's licenses that expired from April 1, 2023, due to the shortage of plastic cards.

“Kapag may failure to renew the driver’s license based on the schedules na binigay natin, automatic deemed as expired na 'yung driver’s license kaya nanawagan tayo sa ating mga kababayan na sundin ang ating schedule on time,” said Mendoza.

(When there is a failure to renew the driver's license based on the schedule that were given, the driver's license is automatically deemed expired, so we call on the public to follow our schedule on time.)

“Mabilis lang po ang proseso ng pag-renew, it will only take around 15 minutes at ang maganda pa dito ay nilagyan natin ng sistema ito para hindi matagal 'yung waiting time,” he added.

(The renewal process is quick; it will only take around 15 minutes, and the best part is that we have put a system in place so that the waiting time is not long.)—Sherylin Untalan/AOL, GMA Integrated News