New rules for student driver’s permit in place

CEBU, Philippines - As part of its agency-wide reform program, the Land Transportation Office-7 implemented the revised rules and regulations governing the issuance of student driver’s permit.

Administrative Order No. AVT-2015-030 provides that the applicant for a permit must be 17 years old, must be physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle, and must be able to read and write Filipino, English or the applicable local dialect.

Foreigners, meanwhile, must be 18 years old and must have stayed in the Philippines for at least one month with proof that he or she will stay in the country for at least a year from the date of application.

Previously, the minimum age requirement for Student Permits was 16 years old.

Under the new order, the Student Permit shall be valid for one year from date of issuance and that the holder of such permit may only operate private motor vehicles and only if he or she is accompanied by a duly licensed driver, whether a holder of a non-professional driver’s license with the appropriate restriction code for the type of motor vehicle driven by the said holder.

The application and issuance of a student permit shall be done at any LTO Licensing Center and District Extension Office.

This new rules are part of the Revised Rules and Regulation in the issuance of the  professional driver’s licenses or PDLs,  non-professional driver’s licenses or NPDLs,  and conductor’s licenses or CLs.

Earlier, Secretary Jun Abaya of the Department of Transportation and Communications said the revised rules will better ensure the fitness and capability of license card holders to drive on our streets and will streamline the application process and make it more convenient for the public.

The LTO is imposing higher standards and requirements for PDL applicants with a view of restricting the industry to truly qualified drivers.

LTO is also tightening its eligibility criteria by disqualifying PDL applicants who have had two or more citations for reckless driving during the validity period of their existing license.

For the convenience of applicants, the LTO will begin accepting medical certificates issued by any duly-licensed and practicing physician, instead of restricting these to accredited doctors stationed at LTO offices.

However, the revised rules require that a medical certificate submitted during application should have been issued no more than 15 days prior other it will no longer be accepted.

The LTO also imple-mented a merit system to incentivize good behavior and disciplined driving among license holders. — (FREEMAN)