205 driving schools hit over certifications

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II

MANILA, Philippines — More heads will roll at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for illegally issuing Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) and Practical Driving Course (PDC) certificates to motorists who want to earn their driver’s license.

In a statement on Sunday, the LTO said it has issued show-cause orders against 205 driving schools nationwide for tampering with the computer system to accommodate additional student drivers more than the daily limitation set by the agency and other violations.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said at least 88 heads of LTO district offices across the country were also ordered to explain why these various offenses were either tolerated or not immediately addressed.

READ: LTO suspends over 100 driving schools for alleged fixing

Among the violations found to be committed by the driving schools were tinkering with their access to the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) to upload more TDC and PDC certificates for their clients more than the daily limits set by the LTO, issuing the two certificates despite noncompletion of the required hours, and nonappearance issuance of the PDC and TDC certificates.

Both the TDC and PDC certificates are major requirements in applying for a driver’s license.

“We have long issued a warning that illegal acts like this can no longer be tolerated because the lives of road users are at stake,” Mendoza said.

“Under the watch of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, the LTO has gained full support to be more aggressive against those behind this,” he added.

In May, the LTO suspended more than 100 driving schools for various offenses relating to the anomalous issuance of TDC and PDC. /cb