Philippines to issue e-driving licences: What to know
Land Transportation Office set to roll out electronic driver's licences from July 26
Manila: The Philippines’ Land Transportation Office (LTO) would soon offer electronic driver's licences in place of a plastic card for new applicants and renewals.
The move addresses the issue of the current lack of plastic licence cards, and digitises the issuance of driving licences in the Asian country, said authorities.
What is the electronic driving licence for?
It is an alternative to the physical cards that the LTO typically issues.
Currently, the LTO issues paper receipts for new driving licence applicants or renewals, highlighting the supply and tech issues related to plastic cards.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) collaborated with the LTO to roll out the e-DL project. The electronic version effectively replaces the paper receipt issued by the LTO.
When will e-driving licences go live?
The LTO has announced that the rollout of these e-licenses is set later this month — it will go live on July 26, 2023.
The agency first showed an example of the digital driver's licence in May 2023. Once it goes into force, it takes the place of the paper receipt given out by the LTO.
How will its authenticity be established?
Law enforcement can scan the given QR code and barcode on the eDL to verify the information. Assistant Secretary Hector Villacorta, the LTO officer in charge, described the eDL as a "valid, secure, and an alternative form of authorisation for persons operating motor vehicles."
How do I get access to the e-DL?
The digital licence will be accessible via the Land Transport Management System (LTMS) online portal.
Will it be available via app?
It was previously reported that the digital licence can also be accessible via a ‘super app’ developed by the DICT. It will also supposedly contain digital versions of other government IDs, ‘among other things’.
What if I have a valid plastic driving licence?
It will be honoured until the date of expiry. New driving plastic driving licence cards will still be issued in the future.
Will e-DL be recognised by authorities?
LTO officer-in-charge Hector Villacorta said that these e-licences are recognised by traffic marshals and enforcers as a valid form of identification.
“The digital driver’s license is a valid, secure and an alternative form of identification for persons driving motor vehicles,” said Villacorta.
“The digital driver’s license will be accepted by traffic enforcers as a valid form of identification to drive a motor vehicle,” official added.
Will screenshots of the e-DL be honoured?
The LTO pointed out that screenshots of the digital licenses are not valid. The version that must be presented to traffic enforcers must be the one from LTMS.
However, with the arrival of this system, the LTO won’t completely replace plastic driver’s licence cards, according to the agency. Local media reported that the DOTr aims to procure at least 500,000 driver’s license cards.
Will plastic driving cards still be issued?
Yes. On July 17, the LTO stated on Twitter that least least 5,000 copies of driver’s license cards will "arrive" before President Bongbong Marcos deliver his second state of the nation address on July 24, 2023.
