BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera Office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO-CAR) warned erring operators of driving schools in the different parts of the region that appropriate penalties will be imposed against them once they will be found to have violated the conditions that were imposed in the issuance of their respective permits.
LTO-CAR regional director Francis Ray Almora stated that the penalties that will be imposed against erring operators of driving schools range from the suspension or the cancellation of their permits depending on the gravity of their violations as determined in the conduct of the investigation to afford them with due process.
He disclosed that based on the surprise inspections that he was able to conduct on the operation of driving schools in the region, there are some schools that do not have the required area where the vehicles used for practical driving can effectively and efficiently maneuver.
Further, the LTO-CAR official also noted that while some driving schools have the required vehicles for driving purposes, the same are not actually being used for their prescribed purpose that is why he already issued stern warnings to the operators of the said driving schools for them to use the said vehicles for the practical driving courses being offered for interested students.
Under the pertinent provisions of the law, applicants for the issuance of driver’s license are required to undergo a 15-hour theoretical driving course and an 8-hour practical driving course prior to the release of their licenses.
Moreover, the instructors of the applicants are mandated to upload to the system of the LTO the names and addresses of the individuals who are qualified to be issued their driver’s license upon the completion of the said courses.
According to him, the LTO-CAR will continue to conduct surprise inspections on the operation of accredited driving schools in the different parts of the region to ensure that their students will not be shortchanged and to guarantee that their operations adhere to the prescribed standards as specified in the permits that were issued.
Director Almora stipulated that the LTO-CAR is looking forward to partnering with a private company that will use technology in assessing the competency of drivers to ensure that individuals who are not supposed to drive motor vehicles will not be issued the required license to guarantee the safety of the public.
Almora urged applicants for the issuance of driver’s license who are not satisfied with the services provided by driving schools to immediately report the same to the LTO-CAR so that the appropriate investigation will be conducted that will ascertain the penalties that will be imposed against the erring driving schools.
At present, the LTO-CAR was able to accredit some 19 driving schools that are now operational in the different parts of the region providing quality driving lessons to the individuals interested to be issued driver’s license for them to drive motor vehicles.
He appealed to the public to understand the prevailing implementation of the minimum public health standards in the various offices and even in driving schools in the region to help contain the rapid spread of the dreaded Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the antecedent surges in cases that might compromise the local health care system. By HENT
