LTO ends med exam requirement

ANY holder of a driver’s license with either a five-year or a 10-year validity is no longer required to go through a prescribed periodic medical examination, the Land Transportation Office said Sunday.

LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade issued a directive to amend LTO Memorandum Circular 2021-2285 or the Supplemental Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10930.

Under the memorandum, apart from the regular medical examination as a requirement for application of a new or renewal of a driver’s license, those issued with a five-year or a 10-year valid driver’s license must undergo a PME.

In the prevailing guidelines, for one with a driver’s license that carry a fiveyear validity, a PME is conducted on the third year of the date of birth after the license was issued.

On the other hand, one with a driver’s license that is valid for 10 years, the PME is conducted on the fourth year and seventh year of the date of birth after the license was issued.

Tugade, however, said the agency deemed it wise to waive the PME requirement based on various studies, data collected and a series of consultations.

Data showed that failure to undergo the required PME is not included among causes of road crashes.

“There’s no empirical data saying that the periodic medical examination could prevent road crashes,” Tugade stressed.

Under the amended circular, the mandatory medical examination will now be a requirement only before applying for, and during the renewal, of a driver’s license.

“For licensees who will be issued a five-year validity driver’s license and 10year validity driver’s license, the medical examination shall only be required 60 days prior to or on the specified renewal date,” Tugade’s directive read.

Tugade said the mandatory medical examination under LTO Memorandum Circular 2021-2285 or the Supplemental Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10930, shall only be required before applying for and during renewal of a driver’s license.