Drivers with extant offenses or violations will not be eligible for the 10-year driving license set to be rolled out October next year.
"Yung pagpapalawig ng ating lisensya hanggang 10 years, mangyayari ito starting October 2021 pero hindi lahat ng drivers license possessor ay makaka-enjoy nitong 10-year validity ng license lalo na kung mayroon siyang demerit point (The extension of our license's validity for 10 years will start in October 2021, but not all those who have a drivers' license will qualify for this, especially if they have earned demerit points)," Land Transportation Office (LTO) Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante told reporters in a virtual briefing.
The 10-year extension of license validity, Galvante said, will serve as an incentive for drivers who strictly follow traffic rules and regulations.
The demerit system was implemented by the LTO in 2019 as part of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act Number 10930 signed by President Duterte in 2017 which extended the validity of drivers' licenses.
Through this system, violations are classified depending on the gravity of the infraction from light (one demerit point); less grave (three demerit points); and grave (five demerit points).
Under the IRR, grave violations include driving a motor vehicle used in the commission of a crime, driving a colorum vehicle, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, among others.
"Kung ang driver ay maka-accumulate ng several demerit points during the duration of the validity of the license, maaaring magkaroon ng mga imposition of fines and penalties, which can range from suspension and even revocation of the license. Maaari ring i-require na magdaan siya sa re-orientation as a driver (If a driver accumulates several demerit points during the duration of the license validity, it may result to the imposition of fines and penalties which can range from suspension and even revocation of the license. They can also be required to undergo re-orientation as a driver) ," Galvante said.
According to Galvante, violations of the drivers are being uploaded by the agency in its system to check how many demerit points they have accumulated when renewing their license. Upon renewal of the license, the LTO said that demerit points are back to zero.
"Hopefully, this measure will help reduce road crashers, as well as traffic accidents which usually cause injuries and even deaths," the LTO chief pointed out.