Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II has ordered the expansion of the free Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) across the country in order for applicants of student permit to save money while training new generations of drivers on road courtesy and discipline.
Mendoza said he already encouraged all LTO Regional Directors and District Office heads to coordinate with local government units, particularly at the barangay level for the conduct of more free TDCs under the LTO outreach program.
TDC is one of the major requirements in applying for a driver’s license and the free seminar on it means that applicants would be able to save at least P1,000 which is normally the charge of driving schools.
The same outreach program, according to Mendoza, will pave the way for the pre-registration for their application.
“Our outreach program is a way of giving back to our kababayan for their support to the LTO in achieving goals and programs last year,” said Mendoza.
“This is also in line with the objective of our Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to use this platform to train the future generations of motorists to be responsible and law-abiding to ensure the safety of all road users,” he added.
The first wave of the free TDC will be conducted in Marikina City on Feb. 10 and 11 involving interested residents of four barangays. Under the arrangement, it will be the LGUs which will provide the venue, materials and equipment, and will also be in charge of choosing the beneficiaries of the outreach program via free TDC.
The outreach program will include information dissemination on road safety and the obligations that must be observed in exchange for the privilege to drive and own a vehicle, according to Mendoza.
Interested barangays and LGUs may forward a letter to the Regional Directors for the conduct of the free TDC.