The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is set to start today, Oct. 28, the gradual rollout of driver’s license that is valid for 10 years to qualified motorists.
LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar C. Galvante said the distribution of the license with extended validity will initially be limited to its Central Office and its Licensing Center both in Quezon City.
Galvante said this will serve as their dry run before they cover other areas in Metro Manila by next week, and the rest of the country in the following days.
According to Galvante, only motorists with zero violations on file are entitled to be given the new license that is valid for 10 years, while those with violations logged will be given the five-year driver’s license.
“Kung kayo ay walang na-commit na traffic violation at hindi kayo na-issue-han ng citation for that time that you were enjoying the privilege of driving, pwede kayong mabigyan ng 10-year validity. Kung may violation, five years lang ang validity (If you do not have a violation or a citation, you can have the license with 10-year validity. If you have a violation, you can only avail of the five-year license),” he explained.
The LTO chief earlier said that the 10-year extension of license validity will serve as an incentive for drivers who strictly follow traffic rules and regulations.
The agency is currently implementing a demerit system 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.
Meanwhile, Galvante added that motorists who will renew their licenses need to pass first a comprehensive driver's education (CDE) program before submitting an application.