LTO launches driver’s educ site

CEBU, Philippines —  Following the Land Transportation Office (LTO)'s new requirement for driving course certificates from applicants of new student permits and new driver's licenses, LTO-7 is set to launch its own Driver's Education Center (DEC) designed to help the underprivileged but deserving applicants.

This will be the first in the region, after the agency accredited 23 private driving schools that offer driving courses.

"If there is what we call a private driving school, this is considered as a public driving school that will help those who cannot afford to enroll in a private driving school. With our own DEC, they can still get their license and be certified in our backyard," said LTO-7 Regional Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec.

The LTO-7's DEC will be located at their current Cebu City District Office along N. Bacalso Avenue.

"It can accommodate 10 applicants per session, following the implemented health protocols such as social distancing," Caindec said.

For student permits, applicants must undergo a 15-hour Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) while new driver's license applicants for both non-professional and professional will be required to secure a Practical Driving Course (PDC) Certificate.

Additional Restriction Code (RC) applicants also need to secure a PDC certificate.

Caindec said that for as low as P300, the deserving applicant can avail of LTO-7's very own DEC.

"Applicants must be indigents, with good morals, and must enroll online so that they can take a slot," Caindec said.

Details on how to get a slot with the full requirements will be posted thru LTO-7's Facebook page.

The agency's move of requiring all applicants to enroll in driving courses is in response to the president's call of having more educated drivers on the road.

Reckless driving is believed to be due to lack of education on the country's traffic laws.

All driving course completion certificates will be electronically transmitted thru LTO-IT system which started last Monday. — GAN (FREEMAN)