Senator Grace Poe. PHOTO FROM SENATOR POE’S OFFICE
The approval in the Senate of a measure extending the validity period of a driver’s license from three years to five years is a “done deal,” Senator Grace Poe said on Tuesday.
Poe declared this even before the Senate committee on public services, which she chairs, began its first hearing this Tuesday on the proposal contained in three bills.
“Extending the validity of the driver’s license is a commonsensical idea, which should have been done a long time ago, It does not involve rocket science,” she said when she opened the hearing of the committee.
“Kaya nga akoy’ natutuwa na ang pamahalaang ito ay sang-ayon sa panukala na habaan ang bisa ng driver’s license.”
(That’s why I’m glad that this administration supports the proposal of extending the validity of driver’s license.)
Poe said extending the validity period of a driver’s license was not only the right thing to do but it was also an “anti-red tape app” that would not cost a single centavo to implement.
“It will save all the drivers in this land of millions of man-hours otherwise spent in queuing to get the permit to operate a motor vehicle,” she said.
“This is, in the words of one sponsor, Senator Recto, a pretty straightforward measure. So referring it to the plenary is a foregone conclusion. And its approval, I can say with certainty, is a done deal,” the senator said.
She was referring to Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, one of the authors of the measure. The two other authors are Senators Richard Gordon and Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito.
While commending the executive branch for initiating the steps that would pilot the issuance of a five-year license, Poe believes Congress should still pass a law amending the validity period of a driver’s license.
“The need for the latter, let me clarify, does not inhibit the LTO (Land Transportation Office) from proceeding with the project. The absence of a law does not restrain it from obeying Malacañang’s order either,” she said.
“Still, the proper thing to do is to pass a law amending the validity period of a driver’s license. Para kahit ibang administrasyon, batas pa rin ‘yan (So that even under a different administration, it’s still a law). The same remedial approach is being applied in the case of the proposed ten-year passport,” Poe added.
The Senate has already approved on second reading a bill extending the validity period of Philippines passports from the current five years to 10 years.
A counter measure was already passed by the House of Representatives last February. JE/rga