LTO suspends processing of student driver's permits from July 1 to August 3

Processing of student driver's permits will be suspended starting Wednesday, July 1, 2020, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced.

According to LTO chief Edgar Galvante, the suspension will last for over a month until August 3, when student drivers will be required to undergo a 15-hour theoretical session.

"Effective July 1, isu-suspend muna namin ang pag-issue ng student permit kasi by August, ire-require na na dapat 'yung nag-apply ng student permit went through these 15 hours of theoretical," he said in a radio interview.

According to Galvante, the 15-hour theoretical session will include briefings on different laws and regulations on transportation such as the Anti-Distracted Driving Act and the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act.

"Ito 'yung panawagan noong una na maraming mga eventually nakakakuha ng lisensya na hindi nila naintindihan o hindi nila alam kung ano 'yung mga rules and regulations on traffic on driving," he explained.

"Itong 15 hours na ito, ang tatalakayan dito ay 'yung mga batas o mga regulasyon na umiiral para sa mga nagda-drive," added Galvante.

To recall, the LTO already announced such measure in February, prompted by the statistics that indicated that about 12,000 drivers in Metro Manila have incurred a minimum of three traffic violations. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/RSJ, GMA News

Galvante said the LTO has already put in place an online portal to accommodate applications, and is in coordination with driving schools for new regulation.