50,000 driver's licenses unclaimed at Manila traffic bureau

Around 50,000 driver's licenses that authorities confiscated due to various traffic violations remain unclaimed at a Manila government office, some of them since 2014, a local official said Friday.

The electronic system of the Land Transportation Office is not linked to the records of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, which allowed erring drivers to pretend that they lost their license, instead of claiming it and facing fines, said the bureau's director, Dennis Viaje.

One violator, he said, falsely executed an affidavit of loss for his license 12 times rather than be fined.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Thursday signed an agreement with LTO for uploading the traffic bureau's records, which would be completed "next year", said Viaje.

In the meantime, an amnesty program by the Manila government would allow drivers to claim their licenses without additional penalties, he said.

"Mas makakabuti po sa mga gumawa ng affidavit of loss noon, e kuhanin na po nila ito. Mahihirapan po silang mag-renew ng lisensya nila 'pag naipasok na po namin ito sa LTO," he told radio DZMM.

(It would be better for those who made an affidavit of loss to claim their license instead. Otherwise, they would find it hard to renew their license once it has been uploaded to the LTO system.)

DZMM, September 13, 2109