Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade has reiterated his warning against "fixers" and fake license pages that have been proliferating on social media platforms.
Tugade said he has been receiving reports on fixers--who have taken their modus operandi online due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic--offering to process driver's licenses and student permits for a sizable fee.
According to the DOTr chief, this online process is also illegal since there will be no personal appearance on the part of the client to submit documents and take the required drivers' license exam.
"Mali po ito. Huwag nating tangkilikin ang ganitong sistema at iwasan natin ang ganitong pamamaraan (This is wrong. Let us not patronize this system and avoid this scheme," Tugade said.
He also called on the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to continuously investigate the matter with the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
"Sa ating mga kababayan, nakikiusap ako na sumunod kayo sa tamang proseso. Maiiwasan natin ang abala at mas malaking problema sa hinaharap kung hindi peke at galing sa ilegal ang hawak ninyong lisensya (To my countrymen, please follow the right process. We can avoid future inconvenience if your license is not fake and illegal)," he added.
Meanwhile, the LTO said it will continue to streamline the process of obtaining a license so that only qualified applicants may get the privilege to drive on the road.