LTO chief Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo “Jay Art” Tugade (PNA file photo)
MANILA – A total of 3,209 student drivers have so far joined the Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) free theoretical driving course (TDC) in a simultaneous nationwide launch on Thursday.
In a statement, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo Tugade said the complimentary theoretical course is part of the LTO’s efforts to “promote road safety and motor vehicle roadworthiness.”
“We, at the LTO, are fully aware of the financial constraints faced by many Filipinos in affording TDC fees. Furthermore, we recognized the growing interest among our citizens to acquire driving skills as a potential source of income,” Tugade said.
The program was launched in time for the 111th founding anniversary of the agency.
While the program can only accommodate a limited number of students from Thursday to Friday, there are plans to repeat the program on a monthly basis.
“This launch will set in motion the regular offering of free TDCs at all regional offices on a monthly basis, aiming to consistently produce LTO driving scholars,”
In April, the LTO set the price cap for TDCs offered by driving schools to PHP1,000, both for motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles, through Memorandum Circular 2023-2390.
Practical driving courses, meanwhile, are capped at PHP2,500 for motorcycles, up to PHP4,000 for light vehicles, and PHP8,000 for heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, and other articulated vehicles.
Both driving courses are necessary before a student driver can get a professional or non-professional driver’s license. (PNA)
