Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 director Victor Caindec on Tuesday clarified that a National Certificate (NC) II is not among requirements in applying for a student permit (SP), saying that information spread on social media claiming otherwise is “fake news.”
According to Caindec, it is true that the LTO will impose more stringent measures for the issuance of licenses but this will be done by requiring applicants, including those for SP, to take classes at an accredited driving school.
Caindec clarified that instructors for driving schools are the ones required to secure an NC II from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), not the license applicants.
The policy is expected to be implemented next year.
“Wala pa man nagawas ang implementing rules pero napirmahan na ang Administrative Order,” said Caindec.
Meanwhile, the driving school will be tasked to issue the certification to students proving that they have completed the driving course.
“Ang driving school mo hatag [og certificate] na hing sud siya og lecture, kahibaw siya mo sunod sa mga balaod usa siya sa mosulod sa dalan para makat-on,” he said.
The driving school however should be accredited by the government, as Caindec noted that there are several “hawshaw” or illegitimate driving schools which could turn into hotbeds of “fixers.”
Caindec made the clarification after several posts spread on Facebook saying: “Sa lahat ng wala o hindi pa nakakakuha ng SP or driver’s License dapat kumuha na kayo within december 209. Dahil by January next year ang lahat ng kukuha ng SP or Driver’s license ay mangangailangan na ng TESDA NC-II Certification parehas lang din ang exam na ete-take ng Non-Profesional at Prof.”
One of the most shared posts was from a page called “Support Duterte.”
Its post was shared 31,000 times with 7,500 reactions as of Wednesday morning.
Numerous Facebook pages expressing support for President Duterte have been known to be the culprit behind online disinformation and the spread of the so-called fake news. (A. Doydora)