LTO bares scheme to cheat in driver’s license exams; mulls scrapping online portal

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA,  Philippines — The head of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is now considering abolishing its online portal after uncovering a novel scheme in the application for a driver’s license.

According to LTO chief Assistant Secretary Teofilo Guadiz III, the scheme involves one person attending the required 5-hour online seminar for driver’s license renewal and another taking the examination.

During Friday’s hearing of the Senate finance subcommittee, presiding chairperson Senator Grace Poe asked about reports that “fixrs” rather than actual applicants were using the Land Transportation Management System site to take the online exam.

“Paanong nangyayari  ‘yun. Are there computer portals in the LTO offices? Is that how they answered [the] exams?” Poe asked.

It was at this point when Guadiz revealed his discovery.

Guadiz initially explained that applicants are required to take a 5-hour online seminar and examination using the LTO portal.

“The irony here and what we found out, Your Honor, as we go on in most of these cases, I would say 75 to 80 percent, it is another person who’s taking the seminar, it is another person who is taking the examination,” he said.

“We feel that this is reprehensible, so we’re evaluating this and my inclination is just to totally abolish this portal,” he added.

Poe said safeguards must be put in place to protect the integrity of the LTO’s system.

READ: LTO assures public all data are protected in all transactions

“What we feel is that kulang lang ‘yung app ng facial recognition for us to be able to effectively use the portal. If that  feature is added, Your Honor, hindi na pwedeng mandaya dahil dapat kitang-kita ng portal ‘yung nag e-exam, ‘yung talagang may-ari ng  driver’s license,” the LTO chief said.

(We feel that the app lacks facial recognition to use the portal effectively. However, if that feature is added, Your Honor, cheating is not possible anymore because the portal can already clearly see the one taking the exam, the real owner of the driver’s license.)

Poe then directed the LTO to submit a progress report on how they intend to fix the problem.

KGA/abc