Credible LTO tests, examiners to ensure competent drivers
SENATOR Grace Poe called on the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to uphold the integrity of its examiners and the credibility of tests required in securing a driver’s license to ensure that only qualified motorists ply the roads. “The credibility of the tests and the integrity of examiners are vital in ensuring that our drivers are competent and knowledgeable. These are the bottomline,” said Poe, sponsor of the new law extending the validity of driver’s licenses.
During the Senate deliberations of the 2022 budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and attached agencies, Poe said that the theoretical examinations for a driver’s license must be hurdled without any cheat sheet from which answers are detestably copied.
“The problem with LTO then was that the answers to the exams were already posted on the wall and as such defeated the purpose of the tests which should never be the case,” Poe said.
Likewise, the senator emphasized that the practical driving exam must not be compromised in any manner but carried out according to the standards required for the issuance of such a license in a bid to help improve road safety in the country.
“Sa practical driving exam, dapat walang bayaran. Tingnan talaga kung marunong iyong driver. Kasi no matter if it’s a 15-hour course, pagdating doon ay nagdadayaan din lang at hindi pa din natin alam kung competent nga ang driver,” Poe explained.
In his interpellation, Sen. Ralph Recto said: ”My problem here is very notorious kasi sa DOTr ang paghahanapbuhay. Iyon nga, iyong mga test, pwede kang magbayad para sagutin… So ito baka hanapbuhay na naman. Iyan ang reklamo ng maraming mga kababayan natin… What we did in the law is to simplify para mabawasan ang red tape para sa ordinaryong mamamayan, hindi para dagdagan.”
At the same time, Poe asked the LTO to submit a copy of its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) which are subject to the oversight of the legislative branch.
“We are asking for a copy of the said IRR and we will review such accordingly to ensure that our ordinary citizens are duly served instead of further burdened by the government,” Poe said.
Meanwhile, the country marked the “National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, Survivors and their Families” last Sunday in adherence to Republic Act 11468 authored and sponsored by Poe.
