LTO 7 TO ESTABLISH OWN DRIVER’S EDUCATION CENTER

FOLLOWING its move to require driving course certificates from applicants of new student permits and new driver’s licenses and those who wish to change or add a restriction code to their existing license, the Land Transportation Office Central Visayas (LTO 7) is set to launch its own Driver’s Education Center (DEC).

The LTO 7 said such is 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 to applicants.

LTO 7 Director Victor Caindec described this move as a “malasakit” initiative of the agency to cater to the poor and deserving applicants.

He said: “If there is what we call a private driving school, this is considered 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.”

He said the LTO 7’s own DEC will be located in its current Cebu City District Office on N. Bacalso Ave. in Cebu City.

He said it can accommodate 10 applicants per session following the implemented health protocol such as social distancing.

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 licenses will be required to secure a Practical Driving Course (PDC) Certificate.

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

Caindec said for as low as P300, the deserving applicant can avail himself of the LTO 7’s DEC.

“Applicants must be indigents, with good morals and must enroll online so that they can take a slot,” Caindec said, enumerating the qualifications for the applicants and stating that they are planning to work closely with the local government units to help them identify the deserving individuals.

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

The agency’s move of requiring all applicants to enroll in driving courses is in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to have more educated drivers on the road.

Reckless driving is believed to be caused by the lack of education on the country’s traffic laws.

All driving course completion certificates will be electronically transmitted through the LTO-IT system which started operating on Aug. 3, 2020.