LTO to trim exam of driver’s license applicants

LTO / driving. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Thursday said applicants for driver’s licenses may soon have a shorter examination as it aims to further eliminate the public’s reliance on fixers.

The LTO acknowledged that lengthy procedures are one of the reasons why many applicants seek fixers to assist them.

“The instruction I gave to our committee was to compress the exam. This exam reportedly takes about two hours. The agency is now studying how to shorten the exam,” LTO Chief Jose Arturo Tugade said in a statement.

“I believe that by reducing the exam duration, our applicants will not seek out fixers and will opt to take the exam themselves,” he added.

LTO earlier said that the examinations would only be trimmed for student driver applicants, but later clarified that it is for driver’s license applicants in general.

Aside from shortening the exam itself, Tugade said LTO is studying driver classifications, as well as adding a driver’s license code.

In addition to shortening the test time, the LTO is also studying to make the questions “customized,” depending on the license classification or driver’s license code that the applicant obtains.

Tugade also stressed the importance of incorporating technology into LTO processes and transactions to fight corruption within the agency.

READ: CIDG, LTO execs disguised as applicants net 5 alleged fixers 

Such processes include online application forms for driver’s license applicants, online transactions, and online renewals.

Tugade further said that the LTO has already replaced the manual ticketing system with a law enforcement mobile handheld device that issues electronic temporary operator’s permits for violators of traffic laws.

RELATED STORIES

LTO: We can’t spend daily collections to purchase plastic ID cards

LTO extends expiring licenses, waives penalties

kga/JPV