MANILA, Philippines — A bill requiring all motor vehicle drivers to undergo a re-education program every five years has been filed in the House of Representatives.
House Bill No. 3196, authored by Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor, provides that a driver could not renew his license unless he undergoes the re-training program.
The measure is aimed at addressing the debilitating traffic situation in the country, prevent road mishaps and instilling discipline among drivers, Defensor said.
The re-education program will be from four to eight hours and a certificate of attendance or participation will be issued to the drivers who completed the program.
Defensor cited data revealing that in 2016, 12,000 individuals all over the country died due to road crashes.
In 2018, more than 10,000 road accidents were reported, with more than 300 people fatalities in Metro Manila alone, he said.
“Kailangan ng disiplina sa daan because hindi lang ito nagdudulot ng trapiko but it brings death, injury, and damage to property,” the lawmaker said in a press conference.
(Discipline is needed on the road because this not only brings heavy traffic but also death, injury and damage to property.)
“If we can improve driver discipline and attitude on the road, we can already start the solution in helping reduce not only traffic but also death and injury,” he added.
The re-education program would refresh drivers with basic Land Transportation Office (LTO) policies, road safety, road rage, anger management, and attitudinal driving, traffic signs and road pavements, and other subject areas such as driver alertness, defensive driving, speed awareness, change course and the like.
The bill allows LTO to charge a minimal fee to drivers to compensate for administrative expenses for training materials, snacks, rental of the venue, and other miscellaneous expenses.
The fee for government officials and employees must be shouldered by their agencies and the fees of drivers of private companies and family drivers must be shouldered by their employers.
Other drivers must pay for their own fees.