Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has filed a bill seeking to suspend the implementation of the mandatory theoretical driving course for aspiring drivers as well as those who are renewing their driver’s license.
Under House Resolution No. 1045, Rodriquez has urged the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to suspend the additional requirement for old and new applicants of driver’s license that is set to take effect on August 3.
In a statement, Rodriguez said that the circular “basically provides for the accreditation of driving institutions” making them “centers of profit at the expense of our people.”
Under the new requirement, applicants of student driver’s permit will be required to undergo a theoretical 15-hour driving course while renewing applicants are required to undertake an eight-hour driving enhancement program.
“It would seem that there are many problems that would result from the implementation of the memorandum circular and it will only be an additional financial burden to and time consuming for the Filipino people,” he said.
“The requirement for a student permit applicant will cost about P3,000 to P5,000 for a theoretical and actual driving course from a private driving school. These amounts will also be spent by all of us drivers when renewing our driver’s license by requiring us to undergo driving enhancement program even if we have no violations on our records,” he added.
Rodriquez pointed out that if the LTO is determined to implement the theoretical driving course, the agency should be the one offering the courses for free.
The lawmaker said the implementation of the LTO circular is “even more burdensome to people in far-flung areas who need a driver’s license and who will have to travel to a private driving institution in the city and pay exorbitant amounts just to have a student permit and to renew their drivers’ license.”
LTO earlier advised applicants that it will be temporarily suspending the acceptance of student permit applications from July 1 until August 2, 2020 to pave the way for the new training requirements in the transaction.