Senator Grace Poe has expressed her expectations for the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to fulfill its promise of releasing 5,000 driver's licenses before the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA).
She emphasized the need for the agency to address the backlog of license cards by September and urged them to improve their system for a smoother application and renewal process.
"We will hold the DOTr to its word to clear the backlog of license cards by September," the senator said in a statement.
"And, from then on, we expect that the agency will be able to fix its system so that our motorists can get their cards upon application or renewal," she added.
While the DOTr is promoting digital licenses, Senator Poe raised concerns about its exclusivity, as not all motorists may have access to smartphones or the necessary technology.
"The license card should still serve as the primary ID. The paperless option offered by the DOTr for now must not compromise security and privacy," Poe pointed out.
Land Transportation Office (LTO) Sec. Hector Villacorta earlier said that the first batch will be given to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and new applicants for driver’s licenses.
