Soon: Driver’s license exam in regional language

MANILA, Philippines — In a bid to make drivers’ examinations more accessible to the masses, the Department of Transportation has directed its regional offices to make the tests available in English, Filipino, or the mother tongue in that region.

Department Order No. 2020-003, signed by Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade, directs the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to translate the driver’s license exam in their respective regional languages within 30 days of the effectivity of the order, or around April this year.

Tugade said the department order was the product of a dialogue with Davao Oriental Rep. Joel Almario.

It takes into consideration, among others, aspiring drivers from Visayas and Mindanao regions where Tagalog is less frequently spoken.

“In the interest of justice and for the effective enforcement of land transportation laws, the DOTr recognizes the need to afford examinees the opportunity to fully comprehend the driver’s license examination,” Tugade said in a statement.

The order complies with Article 14, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution, which provides that “for purposes of communication and instruction, the official dialect of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.”

“The regional dialect is the auxiliary official dialect in the regions and shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction therein,” it reads.

As for the LTO, Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante said the agency has already formed teams to translate the exam into the major languages.