LTO-XI awaits guideline professional driver's licenses renewal

DAVAO CITY, November 26 (PIA) Land Transportation Office 11 Assistant Regional Director Macario “Bong” Gonzaga advised drivers whose licenses need to be renewed to go on with  the procedure even if they already acquire the respective clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation and the police.

He explained the LTO 11 still awaits the guideline suspending both the NBI and police clearances as requirements for the renewal of professional drivers’ license following the pronouncement of Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Emilio  Abaya during the Senate hearing to stop these requirements.

Gonzaga surmised that with the suspension of the NBI clearance as a requirement, the police clearance which is easier to acquire remains.

“We may require the police clearance which is easier to get as a requirement for the renewal of professional driver’s license,” he said.

He affirmed the many complaints raised by motorists like the longer days to acquire an NBI clearance especially if a person’s name is hit after a similar name is implicated in a criminal case.

Gonzaga said getting an NBI clearance indeed takes time.

He explained that it was the DOTC secretary’s intent to raise the standard in classifying the drivers and to protect the commuters from individuals who truly have criminal backgrounds.

Abaya suspended administrative order AVT 2015-029 that requires all applicants of drivers’ licenses to present police and NBI clearances after Senate Major Floor Leader Franklin Drilon and Senate Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto questioned the directive which he looks to have an impact on the drivers’ livelihood as it incurs more expenses.

The LTO directive took effect on November 9, 2015. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)