Transports leaders yield to new LTO guidelines

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu transport leaders have surrendered to the implementation starting November 9 of the new guidelines for drivers who apply for license at the Land Transportation Office.

They said some issues and concerns were snubbed during the public hearing last October 12 as the guidelines are already done.

"Mao lage pang-compliance ra gyud to ang ilang gihimo mga public hearing," said Julieto Flores, president of the Cebu South Mini Bus Operators Association.

During the public hearing, Flores expressed opposition to some of the provisions of the guidelines that increase the minimum age of a student driver permit applicant from 16 years old to 17 years old.

Flores instead suggested to the office to retain the age requirement to 16 years old or reduce it to 15 years old since kids nowadays are already intelligent.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, chairman and general manager of Cebu Integrated Transport Services Multi-purpose Cooperative, said his suggestion for drivers to have a mandatory insurance was also not being considered.

Earlier, Secretary Jun Abaya of the Department of Transportation and Communications said in a statement that the revised rules will better ensure the fitness and capability of license cardholders to drive, adding they will streamline the application process and make it more convenient for the public.

The new rules will cover all four types of licenses issued by the LTO:  professional driver’s licenses or PDLs, non-professional driver’s licenses or NPDLs, student’s permits or SPs and conductor’s licenses or CLs.

Under the new guidelines, driver's license applicants who fail the Basic Driving Theory Test and/or the Practical Driving Test twice shall not be allowed to apply for the same within a period of one year.

While an applicant who fails the tests for the third time will not be allowed to apply for a period of two years.

During the public hearing, Gabby Cruz, president of the Cebu Truckers Association Inc., suggested that those who fail in the written examinations should be given remedial exams instead of a "pass or fail" scheme.

Greg Perez, coordinator of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mgaTsuper at Operators Nationwide, opposed the examinations, especially among professional drivers.

   Alex Bordadora, chairman of the Visayan United Drivers Transport Multi-purpose Cooperative, said that driving is a matter of skill and not merely a theory.

Bordadora and Flores instead suggested that drivers should undergo trainings or seminars instead of requiring them to take an examination.  (FREEMAN)