Based on a Land Transportation Office (LTO) administrative order and in response to the directive by President Rodrigo Duterte, beginning November 2 and onwards, those renewing driver’s licenses would have five years before the license validity expires.

While the new license applications and renewals still demand similar requirements, it is the validity of the card that is lengthened, LTO information officer Florencio Balazuela.

LTO Administrative Order No. 2016-34 dated September 13, 2016 said that non-professional, professional driver’s licenses and conductor’s licenses shall be valid and effective for five (5) consecutive years reckoned from the birthdate of the licensee, unless sooner revoked or suspended.

The move came after President Rodrigo Duterte, who also saw the same problem of fixing and red tape at the LTO figured out that three years validity may not properly pay for the hassle that a driver has to undergo to process his documents at the transportation office.

Besides, giving the five years validity of licenses momentarily cuts the huge crowd of people going back for renewals every short time.

Made effective since October 6, 2016, the validity of licenses for drivers and conductors, the implementation of the licenses processing however is staggered in batches due to what LTO calls a systems adjustment.

When processing started for the first batch in Quezon City October 10, the National Capital Region opened their 5 year-effectivity renewals and applications starting October 17.

For regions 3, 4, 7 and 11, the processing starts for those licenses expiring November 2, Balazuela said.

In an advisory which the LTO provided, LTO Executive Director Atty Romeo Vera Cruz the third batch can start processing on November 7 and this is for applicants from Regions 1, 2, 6, 10 and 12.

The following week is Region 5, 8, 9, CAR and CARAGAs batch for processing, Vera Cruz stated.

Along with the administrative order’s 5 year validity of licenses are the corresponding fees and charges which include new driver’s application fee at P100 and computer fee at 67.63.

Moreover, applicant should also pay for the P585.00 license fee and another 67.63 computer fee.

Computer fee goes to the private company which provides the LTO with its modernization equipment package, LTO sources said.

For license renewals, applicants need to shell out P585 for the license fee and 67.63 computer fee. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)