The Land Transportation Office-National Capital Region-West (LTO-NCR-West) has relaunched its Driver's Education Center (DEC) in a bid to address complaints against the so-called "kamote" riders and other motorists who wittingly and unwittingly violate traffic rules.
LTO-NCR-West Director Roque "Rox" Verzosa III maintained that the strict enforcement of traffic rules should be reinforced by continuous driver's education on road safety and awareness on the existing traffic rules and regulations.
"The relaunching of our newly-improved Driver's Education Center is for new drivers so they can be trained to recognize risk and potential consequences whenever they are on the road," said Verzosa.
"Knowing road safety can prevent many of the dangers of the road and make the roads safer for everyone," he added.
Proper driving skills, through the 15-hour Theoretical Driving Course (TDC), is one of the requirements in application of a driver's license but the intention of educating them is marred with high costs in enrolling in driving schools.
In the past months, a number of LTO clients have been complaining of the additional costs in securing driver's license over reports that certification from driving schools is needed to avail of driver's license.
The program is deemed timely amid complaints against "kamote riders", which usually refer to motorcycle riders who blatantly disregard road safety rules.
The program covers those who would be driving motorcycles and other vehicles.
Verzosa said the DEC they launched on Thursday, Dec 1, prioritizes those who have no financial capacity to go to driving schools.
"The center is open and will benefit all qualified student driver applicants who may not be financially capable of availing of the services of regular driving schools," said Verzosa.
In fact, he said, 15 applicant-drivers, comprising the first batch of students, were the beneficiaries.
He said those interested can apply at the LTO-NCR-West Office at 20 G. Araneta Avenue, Barangay Sto. Domingo, Quezon City.
The relaunch of the program is also through the guidance of LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Jose Antonio "Jay Art" Tugade.
"In the coming days, more applicants are expected to enroll in this center as LTO-NCR-West will sustain its information dissemination to the public,"said Verzosa.
Hanzley Lim, Chief of the Operations Division of the LTO-NCR-West welcomed the first batch of students after the center was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In welcoming them, Lim told the students that having a driver's license is merely a privilege, and students are expected to apply wholeheartedly the knowledge and insights that will be gained from the course, especially on Republic Act 4136, the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.