Paper driver's license holders may receive their actual cards by August or September, according to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista.

According to Bautista, some 130,000 pending driver's license cards will be granted by September, when the shortage is expected to "normalize.

He also stated that they expect licenses to be delivered by the end of next week and that by September, all waiting cards will be delivered.

Due to a scarcity of plastic cards, there was a backlog in the issuance of driver's licenses, causing LTO offices to issue temporary paper licenses.

Motorists who do not have a physical driver's license card can use the LTMS Portal to obtain an electronic driver's license (eDL) issued by the LTO.

Bautista said eDLs could be used as alternative identification cards, but drivers must also have a physical copy.

An LTO official stated that at least 5,000 driver's license cards will be issued before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. gives his second State of the Nation Address next week.

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and new driver's license applicants will receive the first batch of license cards.

Previously, the DOTr and Land Transportation Office announced that the 500,000 plastic card shortfall is projected to endure through October, in response to the latter's April 24 memorandum circular extending the validity of driver's licenses until Oct. 31.