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Advocates Philippines
LTO Chief Tugade Amends Medical Examination Requirement for Driver's License Renewal
Photo credit: Land Transportation Office - Philippines
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will no longer require drivers with five-year and ten-year valid driver's licenses to undergo periodic medical examinations, as per the directive of LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade to amend LTO Memorandum Circular 2021-2285 or the Supplemental Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10930.
Under the current memorandum, aside from the regular medical examination as a requirement for applying for a new or renewing a driver's license, individuals with five-year and ten-year validity licenses are also required to undergo periodic medical exams (PME). The PME for individuals with a five-year validity license is done on the third year from the birthdate of license issuance, while for those with a ten-year validity license, it is done on the fourth and seventh year from the birthdate of license issuance.
However, according to LTO Chief Tugade, the agency has decided to no longer require periodic medical examinations based on conducted studies, gathered data, and consultations. It was found that failure to undergo PME was not among the causes of road accidents.
"There's no empirical data saying that the periodical medical examination could prevent road crashes," said LTO Chief Tugade.
As a result, under the amended policy, mandatory medical examination will only be required once, either sixty (60) days prior to or on the specified renewal date, for drivers applying for a five-year validity license or a ten-year validity license, as stated in Chief Tugade's memorandum.
For Filipino drivers who work or reside in other countries, they will be required to undergo a medical examination within thirty (30) days upon arriving in the Philippines before they are allowed to drive.
"We at LTO believe that this step will bring slight relief to the public as they will no longer need to spend time repeatedly for medical examinations, and it will also reduce the inconvenience, especially for those who have limited time for work. It is now up to the discretion of individuals if they wish to undergo the medical examination voluntarily," Chief Tugade further stated.
Under the current memorandum, aside from the regular medical examination as a requirement for applying for a new or renewing a driver's license, individuals with five-year and ten-year validity licenses are also required to undergo periodic medical exams (PME). The PME for individuals with a five-year validity license is done on the third year from the birthdate of license issuance, while for those with a ten-year validity license, it is done on the fourth and seventh year from the birthdate of license issuance.
However, according to LTO Chief Tugade, the agency has decided to no longer require periodic medical examinations based on conducted studies, gathered data, and consultations. It was found that failure to undergo PME was not among the causes of road accidents.
"There's no empirical data saying that the periodical medical examination could prevent road crashes," said LTO Chief Tugade.
As a result, under the amended policy, mandatory medical examination will only be required once, either sixty (60) days prior to or on the specified renewal date, for drivers applying for a five-year validity license or a ten-year validity license, as stated in Chief Tugade's memorandum.
For Filipino drivers who work or reside in other countries, they will be required to undergo a medical examination within thirty (30) days upon arriving in the Philippines before they are allowed to drive.
"We at LTO believe that this step will bring slight relief to the public as they will no longer need to spend time repeatedly for medical examinations, and it will also reduce the inconvenience, especially for those who have limited time for work. It is now up to the discretion of individuals if they wish to undergo the medical examination voluntarily," Chief Tugade further stated.
Apr 16, 2023
