The Land Transportation Office (LTO) assured on Saturday, Dec. 16, that it will no longer be issuing paper-printed drivers licenses.

“The delivery of these four million plastic cards is enough to address both the backlog and the daily usage through application and renewal of driver’s license,” said LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza II.

“So we would like to announce to our clients, to the Filipino people na wala ng lisensyang papel! Balik-plastic na lisensya na tayo!,” he added.

The statement was made after the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) elevated to the Court of Appeals the injunction order issued by the Quezon City court in connection with the delivery of the remaining 3.3 million plastic cards that were procured early this year.

According to Mendoza, if the Court of Appeals rules in favor of the OSG petition, an additional 3.3 million plastic cards are expected to be delivered in January, aside from the expected 4 million plastic cards.

“Itong four million plastic cards na ito ay parang maagang pa-Pasko sa ating mga motorista na nagtiyaga sa lisensyang papel. Hopefully, Valentine’s Day gift na rin sa ating mga kababayang motorista yun namang 3.3 million na plastic cards na hindi natuloy yung delivery dahil sa injunction,” the LTO Chief said.

It can be recalled early this year when the LTO experienced a backlog in issuing license plates, which was a reason for them to issue a temporary paper-printed license.

“This is really good news for all of us. And we in the LTO are very happy that everything is coming together na. We are back on the right track. And we are likewise happy that under the administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos ay maa-address natin ang backlog na yan sa driver’s license na yan,” said Mendoza.

“Kaya sa pagpunta ng ating mga kababayan para mag-apply at mag-renew ng kanilang driver’s license. Hindi na sila mangangamba na baka ang ma-issue sa kanila ay papel na lisensya. Wala na po yan, lahat ay magkakaroon na ng plastic na driver’s license,” he added.