MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte stated that the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has committed to begin the issuance 10-year driver’s licenses nationwide by December of this year.
“By December 2021, the LTO commits that all its offices nationwide will be issuing licenses with a 10-year validity,” Duterte said in his prerecorded Talk to the People delivered Monday night but aired Tuesday morning.
On October 28, the LTO began issuing the new 10-year driver’s license in its licensing offices in Quezon City.
This month, the LTO branches in Metro Manila followed suit.
“The rest of the offices in the NCR (National Capital Region) shall start issuance of the same in November 2021, to be followed by all other regions progressively,” Duterte said.
Duterte stated that obtaining a driver’s license in the Philippines would be convenient.
“Ang lisensiya ng ating mga [motorist] sa driving sa lahat is good for 10 years. Wala nang renewal-renewal na madalian. You have 10 years to drive. Baka hindi mo maubos ‘yang period na ‘yan sa (The motorists’ license for driving is good for 10 years. No need to renew it for a shorter period of time. The extended validity period is too long for [driving]). Ten years is a… It’s a long haul,” he said.
Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 10930 on Aug. 2, 2017, amending the Land Transportation and Traffic Code to “establish a system that promotes the ease of access to government services and efficient transportation regulation favorable to the people.
For drivers with no offenses, RA 10930 extends the validity duration of their licenses from five to ten years, up from the previous three years.
Motorists must take the comprehensive driver’s education program (CDEP) exam in order to renew their driver’s license.
Motorists who violated traffic laws will be required to take additional CDEP reviewers.
The LTO stated on Tuesday that the CDEP exam and educational materials can be accessible for free via the LTO’s Land Transportation Management System website portal, lto.gov.ph.
