By Billy Begas
Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and two other lawmakers have jointly filed a measure granting a 20% discount to poor public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers for the payment of fees and other requirements needed in obtaining a professional driver’s license.
In House Bill 8070, Duterte, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Edvic Yap propose to apply the discount to examination fees, certificates, clearances, and enrollment in accredited driving schools among others.
Duterte said the numerous requirements imposed by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on professional driver’s license applicants exacerbate the financial challenges faced by PUV drivers.
In addition to passing the written and practical driving exams, professional driver’s license applicants are required to submit a medical certificate, obtain clearance from either the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) or the Philippine National Police (PNP), and complete a minimum of eight hours of practical driving lessons from an accredited driving school, as specified in LTO Memorandum Circular 2021-2284.
The total cost ranges from P4,000 to P7,000.
“While the intention of the memorandum is to promote road safety and proper motorist behavior, such requirements would add to the burden of the PUV drivers who are now even tasked to buy modernized and climate-friendly vehicles under the PUV Modernization Program,” the authors said in the bill.
Under HB 8070, applicants will be given a 20% discount on the payment of 1) a certified true copy of birth certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority; 2) a medical certificate from an LTO-accredited clinic or physician; 3) NBI clearance; 4) a PNP clearance; 5) enrollment fees for the theoretical and practical driving courses given by LTO- and TESDA-accredited driving schools; 6) examination fees; and 7) other government-issued documents and fees required by the LTO.
The measure also includes a provision that reduces the required duration of holding a non-professional license from one year to just three months.
Under the measure, indigent PUV drivers are also given priority in enrolling in accredited driving schools where the courses are free of charge.
Public officers or employees who refuse to provide the benefits granted under the measure will be subject to a fine ranging from P5,000 to P20,000.
