The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is in a crisis. They’re facing a shortage of plastic cards for driver’s licenses with LTO chief Jay Art Tugade saying it will completely run out before April ends. He also shared that they’re at risk of running out of license plates by June. The band-aid solution? Pinoys get to have their temporary licenses printed on bond paper, something that the Internet simultaneously finds so hilarious and frustrating, they can only resort to memes. Here’s how Pinoys are dealing with printed IDs.

Laminated

Nothing screams “I know how to drive” than flaunting your blown-up driver’s license printed on paper. And since some Pinoys like Facebook user PJ Rosales don’t want their official license to get crumpled (because even though it’s printed on flimsy paper, the owner will still be responsible for damages), they opted to have it laminated. The result? An ID you’d need to buy folders for.

According to LTO, these printed official receipts will still have a unique QR code to be used for validation.

Framed

Some folks even framed their licenses to make up for not being able to fit it inside their regular-sized wallets. Now you can pretend to be a proud driver whenever an officer stops you on the road. Look at the bright side — at least you can hang it on the wall so you never forget it before you go out.

Even National IDs are printed on paper

Printing an important government ID on paper sounds ridiculous but it’s nothing we Pinoys haven’t experienced. A few months ago, Pinoys were also dismayed to find out that their long-awaited National ID is also printed on paper. Pinoys were left to cut the IDs themselves and laminate it so it would look somewhat official. And these DIY arts and crafts projects are accepted as valid proofs of identity. Hmm.

License plates might be printed on paper next

If you thought the whole DIY bond paper print fiasco ends with National IDs and driver’s licenses — think again. LTO says that soon, motorists might have to print their own license plates too. Tugade said in an interview that they could have a shortage of plates as early as June.

He stressed that LTO did everything they could to remind the Department of Transportation (DOTr) — tasked to procure the plates — about placing special orders to avoid shortage in license supplies but their “requests went unheeded and were denied.”

Tugade also clarifies that motorists are not allowed to print their own license plates unless given an authorization form by the LTO.

Recto?

At this point, Pinoys are trying their best to bear with the bare minimum. And so, they resort to humor and hilarious suggestions such as asking the government to tie up with Recto ID makers to solve problems. ICYDK, Recto is known as a hub for making counterfeit and illegal documents from IDs to diplomas. According to stories, these illegal vendors can make fake documents in mere hours and for cheap too. A silly suggestion, sure, but at least these guys never seem to run out of plastic cards for the IDs.

What’s the government doing to address the plastic supply issue?

Currently, the House of Representatives has been requested to investigate the shortage of plastic card supply. Rep. Bernadette Herrera from Bagong Henerasyon party list said that the investigation also seeks to hold accountable those who were “incompetent and grossly negligent.”

What do you think of these driver’s licenses and plate numbers printed on paper?

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