Senate to probe ‘anti-poor’ driver’s license application, renewal

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is set to conduct an inquiry into what is widely perceived as “anti-poor” processes in the Land Transportation Office (LTO), particularly in the application and renewal of driver’s licenses.

The inquiry, which is expected to be conducted by the Senate public services committee, was prompted by Senate Resolution 577 filed by Sen. Raffy Tulfo, who said there is a need for LTO frontline services to be streamlined and made “accessible to the marginalized sector.”

The resolution was also meant to look into the shortage of plastic cards for driver’s licenses.

“There have been issues with the process of obtaining driver’s licenses, particularly the requirement to take a Theoretical Driving Course and Practical Driving Course with an LTO-accredited driving school, to undergo a costly medical exam and obtain a medical certificate from an LTO-accredited clinic,” the resolution read.

“There is a need to ensure that the process of obtaining a driver’s license is streamlined, affordable, cost-efficient and impenetrable by fixers,” it stated.

Tulfo recently visited the LTO main office in Diliman Quezon City to check reports of alleged rampant corruption in the agency.

Currently, all new driver’s license applicants are required to enroll in an LTO-accredited driving school that charges P5,000 or higher.

All driver’s license applicants, whether new or for renewal, are likewise required to pay P500 for a vision test.

The senator said he is also concerned about reports of a shortage of plastic cards, which has resulted in the printing of driver’s license on paper.

He said there is a need to investigate the incidents surrounding the bidding of plastic cards as well as license plates “to prevent the repeated problems of shortage of these crucial regulatory tools that secure our land traffic.”

He also said he wants to investigate issues with the process of registering motor vehicles, particularly the requirement of Compulsory Third-Party Liability insurance, which is mandatory for all motor vehicle owners in the Philippines.