SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) Mimaropa continues to extend free theoretical driving courses to help drivers get their license.
During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas held at Calapan City recently, LTO Regional Head Eduardo C. de Guzman reiterated that the policy requiring theoretical driving course (TDC) for applicants, which started in 2020, is anchored on their mandate to build a culture of responsible driving and ensuring road safety.
“Dati kasi makakuha tayo ng student permit without passing or without undergoing sa mga seminar or training, pupunta ka lang sa LTO, [mag]submit ka lang ng birth certificate, tapos [na]. Hindi man lang alam ng aplikante ang traffic rules and regulations [at] duties and responsibilities in case pag may mga vehicular accidents,” De Guzman said.
(Previously, we could apply for a student permit without presenting or undergoing seminars or training. You just need to go to the LTO, submit a birth certificate, and it is done. The applicant does not even have a knowledge about traffic rules and regulations, duties and responsibilities in case there is a vehicular accident.)
He added that the TDC teaches applicants basic vehicle maintenance and defensive driving techniques which help prevent road accidents.
Understanding that taking TDC requires additional expense for applicants, the LTO provides free training as an intervention and extends this service directly to the communities through the LTO Outreach Caravan under the directives of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.
“May mga aloof po na mga mamamayan na magpunta sa mga opisina ng mga LTO. Ngayon, ang ginagawa ng LTO…[kami ang] naga-outreach. Pumupunta po kami sa mga bayan-bayan,” De Guzman explained.
(Some are hesitant to visit the LTO. Now, what we do is to reach out to them and visit different municipalities.)
As of date, the LTO in Mimaropa Region recorded 36,366 clients who underwent the free TDC. In Occidental Mindoro, at least 3,537 applicants received free training through the LTO Outreach Caravan in 2023.
A beneficiary from the municipality of Calintaan received a free TDC through the caravan and was able to apply for a non-professional driver’s license.
“Sa mga wala pang student permit, magkuha na po kayo [sa LTO]. Thank you po sa LTO San Jose District Office sa napakagandang serbisyo na ibinigay ninyo sa amin sa mga taga Calintaan,” she said.
The LTO San Jose will be visiting Brgy. Magarin on June 8 to 9 for the Outreach Caravan, targeting to provide free TDC to more than 100 applicants. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA-Occidental Mindoro)
