Plastic card shortages of the Land Transportation Office
(LTO) could have been prevented, considering the same issue occurred in October
2022 when there were no plastic cards available for producing plastic
identification cards for the Philippine Identification System where there are
over 74.4 million registered Filipinos. Although the administration is now
attempting to make amends for its inadequacies, it is evident that they appear
ill-equipped and have inadequate preparation as a series of shortages of basic
necessities plague the nation.
This issue received criticism from the public because as it
costs between Php8,000 and Php10,000 and leaves them with only a piece of paper
as their driver's license. This not only causes frustration and disappointment among
motorists, but it may also pose a security risk. Issuing a paper license may be
prone to deterioration and tampering compromising the holder's security when it
is used in numerous transactions.
According to the most recent LTO statistics, there are only
147,522 plastic cards that may be used to produce driver's licenses, and they
will all be used up by the end of April this year. Once the Department of
Transportation releases its word on the supply of plastic cards, the LTO
pledges a quick distribution. In the case that the supply of plastic cards runs
out, the LTO issued a memorandum indicating that the official receipt will be
utilized as a temporary driver's license. The official receipt must include all
pertinent information, a unique QR code, and images of the front and back of
the driver's license card.
The shortages in our basic needs such as rice, sugar, onion,
poultry, and now plastic cards could really undermine our function as a nation
as these may continue to hinder our way of living better and be a persistent
problem for us as some supplies may become more expensive or lack the necessary
service needed.
The inconvenience pestering our motorists as a result of the
unavailability of license cards may be interpreted as a cry for help, necessitating
a much more competent and accountable government where irresponsibility is
seemingly out of sight and everything is accessible and ready for the general
public, whether of minor or major vitality. I could only see that if there is a
limitation of supply, it only shows the LTO's negligence. They should be
familiar with national government rules where they cannot claim ignorance of
national government regulations because the Department of Budget and Management
holds workshops on acquiring and quoting such goods. The Land Transportation
Office was not prepared for the challenge or any problem for that matter.
The LTO predicted a shortage of plastic cards as early as
November 15, 2022, and while Tugade was urged to form committees to procure the
material, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) issued a particular order in
January requiring the LTO to defer procurement deals worth P50 million or
higher to the DOTr central office. As a result of the current lack of plastic
cards for licenses, misunderstanding, and incompetence exist inside the offices
of our government. Thus, the public's anguish and disillusionment are born.
Although it is not an unfavorable thing to assert and should
not be taken into account that the office responsible is incapable of leading
its sector to betterment, it is reassuring that the offices responsible for the
aforementioned problems are now making amends to rectify their shortcomings,
make up for any dissatisfaction the general public may have, and solve the
ongoing shortage of plastic cards as necessary steps in diminishing and putting
an end to the problem.
Now that over 5.2 million driver's license holders will be
issued a temporary permit printed on paper rather than a plastic card, it is
safe to say that this problem could have been avoided if the people in charge
of safeguarding the necessary resources had been prepared, responsible, and
competent in their roles as heads of the transportation and licensing
departments. The Filipino people must be entitled to better. It should be
brought out since it is within our rights to demand what is necessary for the
general welfare of the people. Now that these plastic cards, among other
things, are in scarce supply, I'm contemplating what's next in our country's
string of shortages. Though I can only hope that a lack of inept individuals
will be the ones to follow, it could be or not, no one can truly know these
days.
Cartoon by Sofia Nicole Boston
References:
https://www.manilatimes.net/.../lto-faces.../1888074
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/.../plastic-card-shortage...
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/.../govt-issues...
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