AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee (Facebook)

Implementing electronic licenses is the "long-term solution" to the plastic license card woes hounding the Land Transportation Office (LTO). 

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee had this to say even as the LTO bared that it was planning to extend the validity of driver’s licenses for 12 months due to delays in the release of license cards. 

“We are thankful that the LTO has adopted our suggestions [for extending driver’s license validity], but let me be clear that this is only a temporary answer to something that requires permanent solutions," said 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," he said. 

Lee pointed out that the LTO has already begun the rollout of the electronic driver's license or eDL in the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) portal as part of the LTO's digitalization efforts. 

"Tingin ko, dyan na dapat tayo papunta (I think that should be our direction). 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," the neophyte solon said. 

"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," noted Lee. 

In an order dated Aug. 15, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 215 issued a TRO against the LTO, effectively suspending the delivery of some 5.2 million plastic license cards for 20 days.   

Banner PlastiCard was the winning bidder for the supply of the plastic cards.