LTO defends driving course for new drivers

By Paulo DS. Papa

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Bicol region has recently reminded the public about the advantage of the 15-hour theoretical driving course as pre-requisite for the issuance of student driver’s permit.

Lawyer Francisco Ranches Jr, LTO Bicol regional director, cited LTO Memorandum Circular 2019-2176, which establishes the accreditation system to ensure compliance of driving schools and centers to the prescribed driver education standard, in response to numerous complaints about the 15-hour driving course requirement for the issuance of license to new drivers.

Ranches told Bicol Mail that the requirement aims to educate drivers about traffic laws.

We implement the memorandum because we want to have skilled and smart drivers who know the traffic laws. This will also promote road safety, he said.

He said the driving course is being taught in private driving schools accredited by the LTO. He added that the LTO drivers’ education centers also offer the 15-hours theoretical driving course for free.

Applicants who got their driving course certificate can claim their student license from the LTO. Student license serves as a requirement for having a regular driver’s license, he said.

Aside from the theoretical driving course, practical driving course is another requirement for the issuance of student driver’s licence. The practical one, the hands-on driving training, requires tuition fee but the price will depend on the rates charged by private driving schools, Ranches said.