LTO drops periodic medical exam for driver’s license

MANILA, Philippines — Holders of driver’s license with five-year or 10-year validity will no longer need to undergo the prescribed periodic medical examination (PME), the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said yesterday.

LTO chief Jay Art Tugade ordered the amendments to LTO Memorandum Circular 2021-2285 or the Supplemental Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10930.

The memorandum provided that those with a five-year or 10-year valid driver’s license still need to undergo a PME aside from the regular medical examination as a requirement in applying for a new driver’s license or its renewal.

Tugade said the LTO deemed it wise to waive the PME requirement based on various studies, data collected and consultation conducted by the agency.

“There’s no empirical data saying that the periodic medical examination could prevent road crashes,” Tugade said.

He said data also showed that failure to undergo the required PME is not included among causes of road crashes.

He said under the amended circular, the mandatory medical examination will now be a requirement only before applying for, and during renewal, of a driver’s license.

“For licensees who will be issued a five-year validity driver’s license and 10-year validity driver’s license, the medical examination shall only be required 60 days prior to or on the specified renewal date,” Tugade added.

According to Tugade, Filipino driver’s who are working or living abroad will be required to undergo a medical examination within 30 days upon their arrival in the Philippines before they are allowed to drive in the country.