A Quezon City Regional Trial Court has issued a Writ of Preliminary Injunction on the delivery of plastic cards being used in the printing of physical driver’s license, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) confirmed on Monday, Oct,. 23. 

In his decision QCRTC Branch 215 Judge Rafael Hipolito ruled in favor of the arguments raised by the Allcards Inc. that it was denied due process when the Department of Transportation (DOTr) disqualified the company from joining the bidding for the procurement of 5.2 million plastic cards which was won by Banner Plastic Inc. 

The DOTr earlier disqualified Allcards Inc. from participating in the bidding, citing its failure to meet its obligation to another government agency which sought its services.

It was the same court that issued a 20-day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the delivery of plastic cards in August this year. 

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II explained that while a TRO has a scheduled date of effectivity, a Writ of Preliminary Injunction takes effect until the case is decided with finality.

In his decision, Hipolito said that further court orders could lift the Injunction.

Not yet effective

The good news, according to Mendoza, is that the Injunction is not yet effective since Allcards, Inc. has not yet complied with the condition of the court that it post a bond of P6 million before the court order takes effect.

“This injunction is not yet effective because the court also ordered that Allcards must give bonds of P6 million, Until now, the petitioner has not yet posted the bond so the Writ of Preliminary Injunction is not yet effective,” said Mendoza. 

The court order was issued by the QCRTC on Oct. 13 

This means that the Banner Plasticard, Inc. can still go on with the delivery, according to Mendoza.

So far, he said around 1.9 million of the 5.2 million plastic cards were already delivered.

The impact 

Once the Injunction takes effect, Mendoza explained that their target of wiping out the 2.4 million backlog in physical driver’s license by April or March next year will not be met and may be extended for a few more months.

Earlier, Mendoza issued a memorandum detailing the schedules of the processing and claiming of physical driver’s license in all LTO offices across the country. 

Based on the memorandum the following are the schedule 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 said they still have enough supply to cater to the expired driver’s licenses for the months of May and June, as well as the daily usage of around 30,000 for new applicants.

But once the Writ of Preliminary Injunction takes effect this month, this means shortage of supply that will affect their target of wiping out the backlog for driver’s license. 

Solutions

Anticipating the worst-case scenarios, Mendoza said they said the quick-fix solution is to extend the validity of the driver’s licenses that will be affected by the new supply shortage and the use of paper-printed driver’s license.

But he revealed that they are now on the finalization stage of the study on the implementation of the electronic driver’s license, or e-driver’s license. 

This, he said, is another long term solution that could also lead to government savings of P300 million to P400 million every year.

Another solution they are now exploring, according to Mendoza, is to tap the National Printing Office in the printing of driver’s licenses. He said discussions are ongoing with the DOTr on this matter.

Mendoza also disclosed that they are eyeing the recommendation to fast-track the bidding process for the 4.6 million plastic cards that are stipulated in the national budget for 2024.

“The national budget for 2024 is not yet approved. By fast-tracking it amid the issuance of this Injunction, we hope that we would be able to start the bidding process by January next year,” said Mendoza.