BAGUIO CITY – Some eleven theoretical and practical driving schools in the city and three provinces in the region were accredited by the Cordillera office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO-CAR) to train individuals wanting to obtain driver’s licenses.
LTO-CAR regional director Francis Almora stated that of the accredited driving schools, 9 theoretical driving schools while 2 are allowed to offer practical driving courses to prospective drivers in their areas of operation in the region.
He added that Baguio City and Benguet have 3 accredited theoretical driving schools each, 2 in Abra and 1 in Kalinga
Further, he claimed there is one practical driving school each in Baguio and Benguet to provide the practical driving requirements of individuals wanting to obtain their licenses from the agency.
The LTO-CAR official reported that the 9 theoretical driving schools have been given the provisional authority to operate for a period of 90 days subject to extension in compliance with the requirements for the establishment of their respective practical driving course as part of their permit to operate.
Based on existing rules and regulations, permitted driving schools must have their own 40-by-40 meters area for the practical driving requirements of their applicants for driver’s licenses.
Under existing rules of the Department of Transportation and Railways (DOTR) and the LTO, applicants for student permit to drive must undergo 15 hours of theoretical training in an accredited driving school before being issued the aforesaid permit.
For applicants for the issuance of non-professional driver’s license, they must first undergo the required 8-hour practical driving course in an accredited driving school and after completion of the same, they will have to wait for one month and one day prior to the issuance of the applied license.
For individuals wanting to upgrade their student permit to professional driver’s license, the aspirants must wait for at least 5 months and 1 day before taking the examination with 100 questionnaires where the applicants must get a score of 80 to be granted the license being applied for.
On the other hand for individuals in possession of non-professional driver’s license wanting to upgrade their license, the applicants must have to wait for 1 year before taking the same examination with the same required score to be able to be issued the applied license.
Almora explained that the stringent requirements imposed prior to the issuance of the applied student permit and non-professional and professional driver’s licenses is part of the efforts of the government to professionalize the driving profession and prevent human error as cause of accidents among drivers who may have gotten their licenses through questionable modes, like through fixers, among others. By HENT
