CITY OF SAN FERNANDO The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has vowed to implement corrective measures on the process and cost of applying new driver’s license.
Pampanga Fourth District Representative Anna York Bondoc earlier called for an investigation on what she called " Gintong Lisensiya" (“Golden License”) or the high cost of securing a new driver’s license.
LTO said technical working group (TWG) has been created as early as November after Chief Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo “Jay Art” Tugade was installed.
The TWG was tasked to review the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the operation and cost of LTO-accredited driving school and medical clinics.
Tugade clarified that getting a driver’s license from the LTO only costs a total of P250 for student permit, and P685 for non-professional driver’s license for both the application and license fee.
However, Republic Act 10930 requires applicants to undergo theoretical driving course (TDC) and practical driving course (PDC) to get a driver’s license valid for five years.
An applicant has to pay P2,500 for the theoretical driving course, P6,800 for the mandatory eight-hour practical driving course (PDC) in a driving school and P600 for a medical certificate.
Tugade said a series of consultations with stakeholders including driving school and medical clinic owners has been conducted by the agency.
"What we are proposing, which will be based on the recommendation of the TWG, is a reasonable standard fee-based structure for driving schools aimed for the benefit of the public," the LTO chief said.
He added that they are currently in process of finalizing the amended IRR to implement the standardized rates.
“Batid po namin sa LTO ang sentimyento ng ating mga kababayan kaya naman ito’y amin nang pinag-aaralan para solusyunan. Maaaring sa mga susunod na linggo ay makapagpalabas na kami ng nirebisang panuntunan hinggil dito,” Tugade said.
He also urged the public to take advantage of the training and TDC offered by local government units in partnership with their agency.