HOUSE Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez is urging the Department of Land and Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to scrap the driver's education requirement for those applying for license renewal.
According to Rodriguez, the comprehensive driver's education (CDE) requirement will be an "additional expense for the Filipino people during this pandemic."
The lawmaker also said it is "unnecessary" and has "no legal basis."
On October 29, 2021, the LTO announced that it will issue driver's licenses valid for 10 years, but all motorists will be required to take a seminar and examination when renewing their licenses.
LTO said that the 10-year license validity is a provision of Republic Act 10930, passed in 2017, that amended the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
However, Rodriguez said that there is no provision in the Republic Act No. 10930, which was LTO's basis of the requirement, which explicitly states that a certification for a CDE is required for renewing a driver's license.
"The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that the spring cannot rise higher than its source and implementing rules must conform to the language of the law," Rodriguez said.
He added that while the materials for the CDE is free of charge if it done through the LTO website, it could also be obtained from LTO-accredited driving schools for P1,000 to P3,000.
Rodriguez said that this could be another source of red tape, harassment and corruption. He also reminded the LTO that the vehicle emission testing have been the sources of corruption and controversy, especially if they are outsourced to private contractors.
The lawmaker further said that the LTO should properly explain the basis for its impositions and to "prove that the correct legal processes were complied with.
Rodriguez also urged the House to look into the CDE requirement.