The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Wednesday announced the launch of a nationwide, complimentary theoretical driving course (TDC) for pre-registered student-driver applicants on May 11 and 12.
LTO chief Jay Art Tugade said the TDC program was designed to offer opportunities for economically disadvantaged Filipinos to apply for a student permit, granting them access to valuable driving skills and education.
The bottom line was to promote road safety and motor vehicle roadworthiness across the country, Tugade said.
The initiative also coincides with the agency’s 111th founding anniversary.
“LTO recognizes that not all Filipinos have the financial means to cover TDC fees, which is why we have arranged for the provision of complimentary TDCs at our regional offices. While we can only accommodate a limited number of students, this initiative demonstrates the agency’s dedication to increasing the number of qualified drivers on the road, in partnership with our affiliated driving schools,” Tugade said.
The TDC roll out serves as a catalyst for the rollout of free TDCs at all regional offices on a monthly basis in an effort to generate a constant stream of LTO driving scholars, he stressed.
Many Filipinos today are eager to develop driving skills as a potential source of income, he said, adding that the public should only apply for a student permit at official LTO offices and steer clear of fixers.
“We wish to emphasize that the TDC is a prerequisite for all student permit applicants, and the agency is working diligently to make it accessible to those without the financial means to do so,” the LTO chief said.
“This is an effort to discourage applicants from resorting to fixers. Engaging with fixers is not only a financial waste but also results in unqualified and unskilled drivers on our roads,” he warned.