Poe: LTO should strictly implement rules on driver’s license provision
Sen. Grace L. Poe (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) should be strict in implementing its rules regarding provision of driver’s licenses so that only qualified motorists would use the roads, Senator Grace Poe said on Friday.
Poe said this in response to the recent spate of accidents in the country — including an incident along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) northbound lane on Thursday, where 10 individuals died.
According to the Senator, the crashes should be enough to wake LTO up, and ensure that only deserving drivers are given licenses.
“The fatal road crashes that have killed and maimed motorists must serve as a wake-up call for transportation officials to enforce the rules on licensing to the letter,” Poe said in a statement.
“Road safety depends on qualified, skilled and law-abiding drivers. They are the only ones who should possess the license to drive,” she added.
Reports indicate that over 30 were also injured after a Solid North passenger bus rammed into a van and a sports utility vehicle which were queuing at the Tarlac Exit’s northbound toll plaza.
According to the Tarlac provincial police, charges are being prepared against the driver of the Solid North passenger bus that triggered the crash.
READ: 10 dead in SCTEx toll plaza crash
Operations of Solid North’s 15 buses plying the route of Cubao, Quezon City to Lingayen have been suspended.
According to Poe, while she was behind and supported the policy on longer driver’s license validities, it was envisioned for drivers who “put premium on road safety.”
Currently, only drivers without traffic violations are allowed to have 10-year licenses.
“We pushed for this law to have a system that will promote ease of access to government services and efficient transportation regulations,” she said. “The law also incentivizes drivers who are law-abiding and encourages others to be more responsible on the road.”
“Let’s penalize the violators and reward the drivers with clean record. The license is a privilege that comes with serious responsibilities,” she added.
Aside from the SCTEx accident, three individuals were killed while 10 others were hurt after a crash involving six vehicles happened along Fortune Avenue in Marikina City.
According to reports, the incident happened last April 23 after a trailer truck lost control while traversing Fortune Avenue’s inclined slope, hitting a compact car, a sedan, a sport utility vehicle, and two passenger jeepneys.
READ: 3 dead, 10 hurt in 6-vehicle crash in Marikina
Just before the Holy Week, two individuals died after a jeepney went wayward along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. At least 16 others were injured.
READ: 2 dead, 16 hurt after jeepney goes wayward along Commonwealth Avenue
This is not the first time that Poe called on the government to address rising cases of road accidents. Last March 2025, Poe said that the transportation safety bill should be passed immediately due to several incidents of road mishaps.
Poe said that the alarming incidents should prompt the government to implement measures to address the concerns.
