CEBU CITY, Cebu, Nov. 26 (PIA) -- The Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 7 is now auditing all its offices in preparation for the roll-out of the ten-year Driver's License in the region.
LTO-7 Regional Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec said that initially, their Central Office has relayed that other LTO offices in the country that was not part of the first roll-out in its Central Office Licensing Section in Quezon City on Oct. 28 and National Capital Region (NCR) offices which started on Nov. 3, will start rolling out the ten-year Driver's License on Dec. 1.
"We are waiting for the final office orders but there's a strong chance nga December 1 ang LTO Region 7 will be able to initially start issuing the ten-year license cards," said Caindec.
The regional director said they are also doing an audit on the capability of their offices in facilitating the new validity.
"We are also checking on the state of all the computers as well as starting our familiarization with the new system," added Caindec.
The director explained that they are making this pre-announcement for the public to know what they need to do before renewing their driver's licenses.
Under Republic Act No. 10930 which amended the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, a driver can only get a ten-year driver's license if he is a "holder of a professional and nonprofessional driver's license who has not committed any violation of Republic Act No. 4136 and other traffic laws, rules and regulations."
Aside from passing the examination at any LTO office for the renewal of a driver's license, all renewing applicants will undergo the Comprehensive Driver's Education (CDE) to get a Certificate.
The CDE Online Validation Exam is readily available to all applicants for free at the LTO Portal (portal.lto.gov.ph) and LTO offices through its Driver's Education Centers.
The same refresher course will also be available at the LTO-Accredited Driving Schools where fees may be applicable.
Renewing applicants should pass at least 50% or 13 correct answers out of the 25 questions to get the CDE certificate.
Before taking the exam, one should pre-register at the LTO Portal.
Caindec clarified that passing both the CDE Exam and the mandatory examination for renewal of driver's license, will not automatically guarantee a ten-year driver's license card.
Under Section 9 of R.A. 10930, "LTO shall institutionalize a point system which shall be used to assess the fitness and eligibility of driver applicants for their desired license transactions."
"The system shall likewise be utilized as the primary tool to identify, deter and penalize repeat offenders of traffic laws and ordinances. The LTO shall establish and maintain a registry where demerit points incurred by every driver shall be recorded, stored and accessed for convenient monitoring," read Sec. 9 of R.A. 10930.
The LTO director said if the renewing applicant has previous violations in the last five years, they may only be given the five-year driver's license validity or may undergo a mandatory driver's re-orientation course.
Renewing a driver's license will cost P585 for on-time renewal of Standard Professional and Non-Professional license.
This excludes the P67.63 computer fee and penalty for late renewal which will range from P75 to P225.
LTO's Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) Online Portal offers CDE Presentation Materials that include: Road Safety, Road and Traffic Rules, Special Laws (light vehicle), Special Laws (Motorcycle and Tricycle), Other Regulations and General Information.
Caindec also reminded motorists who have not yet claimed their vehicle plates to go to the Temporary Offsite Plate Distribution Office of LTO-7 located at SM Seaside City Cebu and claim their vehicle plates.
Caindec added that they have started distributing the plates since Nov. 19. (JSME/PIA7 with reports from LTO7)
