The Philippines is one of the countries where you can get a driver’s license by just investing time and patience (because of the long lines). However, it is, in itself, easy as compared to acquiring a driver’s license in other countries like Canada and Japan.
All that applicants need to do is to drive a car, get from your departing point to your destination point, study road rules and voila, you’ll just have to endure the queue and you will be given a license.
Read: Proposal of a Car-Brand Coding Scheme in EDSA Has Been Submitted to Help Relieve Traffic in EDSA
Unqualified drivers on the road
Because of the simplicity and ease in getting a driver’s license here in the Philippines, this resulted to thousands and thousands of unqualified motorists and drivers in Philippine roads.
This can be drafted and seen as the reason for the continuous chain of damages and road accidents in the country. And yes, we’re pertaining to the majority of the driving population who doesn’t care what happens with other vehicles around them.
Read: What is the Penalty For Underage Driving in the Philippines?
So how does the Land Transportation Office (LTO) plan to address this concern? By having a more rigorous and thorough process in applying for a driver’s license.
A firm application for upcoming drivers including attending driving school
Many people in the professional driving industry sought our process in applying for a driver’s license to be lenient. This is why Benjamin Santiago III, LTO NCR East Regional Director, said that they’re currently working on a new policy that will filter all drivers who would be accepted to be more firm and road-rule-following.
The new policy, once approved, will change the process and requirements, making [the application process] more stringent.”
Read: New and Updated Guidelines for Advance Renewal of Driver’s License
How does the new policy look like?
Although there are no final decisions on it yet, Santiago said that under the new policy, applicants would be required to undergo mandatory lecture, series of exams regarding road safety, and driving tests with duly-accredited driving and testing centers.
Before an applicant can be given a student permit, the applicant must undergo a mandatory 15 hours of lecture, which includes road safety. A series of exams will follow before one gets to have a basic license.”
Driving school requirement
Apart from the lectures in road safety and tests, all applicants will also be required to attend driving school. The driving school should be TESDA-certified and LTO-accredited for it to be legitimate and accepted.
Read: Driver’s License Renewal, Available on Saturdays
For applicants who cannot afford a driving school, the LTO said that they’ll be offering the same service for a much lower fee. Thus, allowing everyone applying to be under fair and equal regulations.
By requiring applicants to attend driving this, the LTO is ensuring that everyone who would be getting a driver’s license would be people who earned it; not just people who need or want it.
Redesigning of the licensing system
Furthermore, the LTO said that they’ll be redesigning the entire licensing system for a better and a much more filtered process. They said that the current classification, non-professional and professional driver’s licenses would become obsolete; classifications would be dependent on the vehicle a specific applicant can operate or drive.
Read: Land Transportation Office (LTO) Fees For New License, Student Permits, Etc.
Yes, drivers will then be grouped according to whatever vehicle they can operate; it’s not just going to be “non-professional” and “professional.”
Are there guidelines for this new process now?
The LTO has not released guidelines about this new policy yet. No news on how this policy would work has been sent out to the public. Vhiren Suba, LTO Taguig Licensing Center Assistant Chief, said that the implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) of the policy is still being drafted.
But it was mentioned that current license holders might be required to take up at least four (4) hours of driving lessons, lectures, and lessons from accredited schools and instructors for new permits and licenses to be released.
Read: New Rules of the LTO Might Revoke Your License After Repeated Violations
It’s currently being finalized and no news yet on when it will be effective has been announced. What we’re sure of is that the LTO is planning on enhancing the whole licensing system; that everyone who would be getting a license should be duly accommodated and tested to avoid problems when they are going to drive in real-life situations.
What do you think about the LTO’s plans to require applicants to pass driving school before they are given a student permit? Is this a just act to control the motorists roaming around the country?
Source: Top Gear Philippines
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