Solon: Suspend required paid driving lessons for driver’s license application

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY——-After urging the transportation department to defer the emission test requirement of vehicles, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is asking the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to suspend its order making it mandatory for old and new drivers to enroll in privately-run driving schools before they are issued a license.

Rodriguez has filed House Resolution No. 1045 calling for the suspension on the implementation of LTO Memorandum Circular No. 2019-2176 that is set to take effect on Aug. 3.

In essence, the lawmaker wants the LTO to suspend the requirement for applicants of student driver permits and those renewing their driver’s license to undergo a mandatory driving course for 8 to 15 hours from private driving schools.

Rodriguez said the circular “basically provides for the accreditation of driving institutions” making them “centers of profit at the expense of our people.”

“It would seem that there are many problems that would result from the implementation of the memorandum circular and it will only be an additional financial burden to and time-consuming for the Filipino people,” he said.

He said the LTO issuance provides that applicants for student driver permit go through a “theoretical” 15-hour driving course, while those renewing their driver’s licenses are required to undergo an eight-hour driving enhancement program.

“Renewal applicants with demerits are also asked to finish the same program of varying hours depending on their demerit points,” the legislator said.

He said the requirement for a student permit applicant will cost about P3,000 to P5,000 for a theoretical and actual driving course from a private driving school.

“These amounts,” Rodriguez said, “will also be spent by all of us drivers when renewing our driver’s license by requiring us to undergo driving enhancement program even if we have no violations on our records.”

“If the LTO is determined to require such training, it should be the one offering these courses free of charge and only to those renewing their driver’s license with demerit points for violation of traffic rules,” he said.

He pointed out that Republic Act No. 10930, otherwise known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, “does not provide that the LTO will accredit external private driving schools and it is common knowledge that these driving schools are there to make money.”

He said the implementation of the LTO circular is “even more burdensome to people in far-flung areas who need a driver’s license and who will have to travel to a private driving institution in the city and pay exorbitant amounts just to have a student permit and to renew their drivers’ license.”

Earlier, Rodriguez called for the suspension of the vehicle emission test requirement to speed up the registration of motor vehicles, which the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted.

The Department of Transportation has canceled the permits of many emission testing centers all over the country and the remaining few cannot service all private vehicles such as the case in Cagayan de Oro City.

/MUF