Revised LTO driver’s medical certificate incomplete

This is about the policy of DOTC/LTO replacing the previous medical certificate form which took effect last Nov. 15.

While DOTC Secretary Abaya and LTO Assistant Secretary Tan have the best of intention in providing convenience and easy access to drivers in need of a medical certificate, a requirement for the renewal of license to drive a motor vehicle, it would have been better to just continue using the previous medical certificate form so that the examining physician can arrive at a correct diagnosis.

Why does DOTC/LTO compel physicians to follow blindly in issuing a medical certificate solely based on the tailor-made printed data which is incomplete, thus tantamount to issuance of a false medical certificate. This can be a valid ground to cancel the physician’s license to practice his profession. Why exclude the drug testing as part of the medical examination which is the most important considering that drug addiction is common among drivers who are prone to accidents.

Enclosed is a copy of the previous and present medical certificate forms for your comparison to prove my allegation.

• Only the name of the driver appears in the data. Omitted are the age, address, gender, height, weight, marital status, identification such as resident certificate, PTR, PRC, etc.

• Driver’s signature is omitted.

• Blood pressure reading not done.

• Visual acuity test using the Snellen’s chart to determine eyesight condition not done.

• First endorsement of LTO branch chief prior to the conduct of medical examination is not required.

• Official receipt of payment by the driver for the medical examination is no longer required by the LTO, the exact opposite of the previous requirement.

• It is of public knowledge that medical certificates are issued to drivers for a fee, by presenting to LTO a false medical certificate bearing the name, clinic address, PRC, PTR, etc. without the knowledge of the physician. This is done by unscrupulous persons who are in cahoots with some LTO personnel by issuing forged, falsified, fraudulent or fake medical certificate.

In fairness to both DOTC/LTO agencies, I wrote a letter last Dec. 10 about what is happening. The office of Atty. Mark Abaya who received it last Dec. 14 responded by urging Asec. Tan to take immediate action on the matter which was received last Dec. 22. Sad to say, there is no response despite my repeated phone calls for over a month now.

I decided to cite these problems as a concerned senior citizen, physician, Mason, civic-leader, crusader and a children’s advocate by appealing to DOTC/LTO to stop implementing its new policy by using the former medical certificate form with complete data. The main objective of requiring a medical examination is to ascertain driver’s fitness to handle vehicles to ensure the safety of the public who may be injured or die due to accidents. – Dr. NESTOR LACEDA Sr., FEADCO Bldg., Shaw Blvd. cor. JB Vargas St., Mandaluyong City