AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee on Friday hailed the decision of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to adopt the recommendation of automatically extending the validity of driver’s licenses for 12 months.
This comes after delays in the release of license cards as a result of a temporary restraining order (TRO) halting the LTO from utilizing 5.2 million plastic cards.
With such, Lee urged the agency to learn from its missteps and utilize technology to avoid similar delays in the future.
“We are thankful that the LTO has adopted our suggestions, but let me be clear that this is only a temporary answer to something that requires permanent solutions,” stressed Lee.
“Now that we have this extension in place, we urge the LTO and the DOTr (Department of Transportation) to adopt more viable long-term solutions that will make getting licenses more convenient for motorists.”
Lee pointed out that the LTO has already begun the rollout of the electronic driver’s license (eDL) in the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) portal as part of the LTO’s digitalization efforts.
“By going digital we can avoid the procurement issues that constantly plague the LTO. We intend to file a bill that enables the use of digital driver’s license,” said Lee.
“By taking advantage of existing technologies, we can issue driver’s licenses faster and more efficiently. It will save time and money not
just for the motoring public, but the government as well.”
During the DOTr budget briefing, the Bicolano legislator reiterated his suggestion that, given that the renewal of driver’s licenses was
held up by a TRO, expiring licenses should be automatically extended for a year instead.
LTO officials confirmed to Lee and fellow House Members that the agency would extend the validity of driver’s licenses for one year.
Since 2015, the government has reported delays and backlogs in the issuance of driver’s licenses due to legal cases involving the procurement of license cards.
In response to this, Lee on August 16 filed House Resolution No. 1203urging the DOTr-LTO to automatically extend the validity of driver’s
licenses of those affected by the TRO.