Renewing license at LTO can drive one to insanity

[ghosthunter]

Renewing license at LTO can drive one to insanity
By Maria Luisa Garcia-Morera
3:53 am | Sunday, December 9th, 2012

MANILA, Philippines—This experience drove me crazy.

With no valid driver’s license to pull out of my purse, I went to the Central Office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Dec. 4 for the first time to get the green light to drive again.

My license expired two years ago and to renew it, I was told that I have to go through the same process as getting a new one. That is, I have to take the driving exams—practical and written—all over again. That after being a driver’s license holder for 40 years.

I wonder what LTO chief Virginia Torres was thinking when she imposed this on people whose driver’s licenses have been expired for two years and more.

Why not punish drivers who commit offenses and who get traffic tickets by making them take the examination again? Is forgetting to renew a license such a big offense as to have to go through tests again and go through the rigorous process of getting a license in the main office of the LTO?

Failing to renew expired licenses can happen to people who work abroad like overseas contract workers, people who have lived abroad for some time or people who do not drive regularly like me.

I went to the LTO as early as 9:30 a.m. where I was greeted by the guard who asked me if I already had the required urine drug test. As I had no idea of the procedure, a man offered to help me out.

He brought me to a dirty, dingy-looking place outside the LTO compound where I was supposed to have the test. I was charged P300—no receipt.

Next stop was an eye test. I was cleared and charged P100—no receipt.

Drug test, check. Medical test, check. I was then ready to apply for a driver’s license.

The process starts by filling out the application form and submitting it to the cashier. The application form costs P167.63. What’s with the loose change? Where does it go?

Then I was made to go to a review room so I could, well, review for my exam. After an hour, my name was called to the examination room. I was given a seat, but I had to cool my heels for 15 minutes with five other examinees because they ran out of test papers.

They were still fixing the copying machine to reproduce more test papers. The test papers are photocopied as applicants arrive. Why not have them mimeographed in big quantity, which is more economical than the photocopy?

After the exams, those who make it are instructed to go to the “puno ng langka”—a shed beside the langka tree—for a seminar. There we were gathered at 12 p.m.

The lady who was to conduct the seminar arrived at 12:45 p.m. and, like a drill sergeant, ordered those standing at the back to sit down. We were about 30 people there and there were those who were standing because they could not see her well from behind. Instead of standing, she was seated while giving the seminar. Perhaps because she had a filling lunch. None of us had lunch yet. I spoke in defense of the people standing behind but she was quite arrogant and claimed she could be seen well.

The tract test was next. I felt sorry for those who did not have cars of their own to test drive as they had to pay P250 to rent a car and P150 for the motorcycle. This was only for a five-minute test drive.

Is this another racket in the LTO? I brought my car so I did not need to rent a car.

License No. 4 or No. 2?

But there was another hitch. I was asked if I wanted a driver’s license No. 4 or a driver’s license No. 2. Driver’s license No. 4 is a license for automatic cars only while driver’s license No. 2 is for both automatic and manual.

For No. 2, I would have to test drive a manual car that I would have to rent from them. But I was told I did not need to test drive an automatic. Is that logical? Who makes rules like these?

I passed the practical test and was made to go to window No. 7, the cashier. Another wait. When my name was called, I went up to the cashier where the cashier pointed to the sign beside her that says, P642.63.

The cashier must have been so sick and tired of saying the amount over and over that she posted three signs beside her. One is P167.63, another, P642.63 and the third, “Umupo at maghintay na tawagin (Be seated and wait to be called).”

5 hours later

Then final stop at window 11. My name was called and I was given my license. It was 2:30 p.m. I was at the LTO for exactly five hours to renew my license.

I had to skip work for this. I was already able to make friends there, with applicants like me. They, too, had to miss work. We were congratulating each other when we finally got our license.

I told them I was going to write about this in the Inquirer or report it directly to the LTO in the hope that we could improve the system.

In this day and age, I’m sure we can do better. This whole process of license renewal does not have to be this complicated, tedious and costly for our people.

I was so happy when Mar Roxas was made head of DOTC and sad when he was removed from that office. I have so much faith in this guy, who I believe could change our old ways.

I hope our LTO chief will take time out to review this. I am not sure she is aware of every step one has to go through in renewing one’s license in this country. Surely, there is a more efficient and convenient way.

(Editor’s Note: Maria Luisa Garcia-Morera, a concerned citizen, is a resident of Pasig, Metro Manila.)

source: Renewing license at LTO can drive one to insanity | Inquirer Business

[fourtheboys96]

Welcome to the real Philippines!

"I went to the LTO as early as 9:30 a.m....."

This should be edited to "I went to the LTO as late as 9:30 a.m...."

[jodski]

Sa dami ng tao na kailangan I service dyan... late na rin talaga ang dumating ng 8:30... its her fault also dealing with the other Guy since naka itemize naman ang mga requirements kahit sa medical exam.

I add up mo pa yung issue nila with stradcom kaya lalong nagkagulo dyan.

[stickers]

My point of view? you're license was expired two years ago. Driving a car may be not as easy as it was 2 years ago, traffic rules has changed a lot. If you did go abroad lived your life there for 2 years, what makes you special and give you leverage over those who would take the same process to get their new license? 9:30am is really late, you may be in the middle class reason why you don't know how the government agencies work. It may be true that improvements can be made but we all know better... you don't change overnight. It's a long process and your publication may be the 1st small step we all need. Someone just have to knocked out their senses so they know how bad their management is. People make procedures, rules, and laws they themselves do not experience first-hand and that what makes it faulty.

[lowslowbenz]

Naku, for renewal na pala license ko!

[chrismarte]

Naku, for renewal na pala license ko!

Happy Birthday

Mag ok pa rin siguro mag renew sa mga mall mas madali malamig pa.

[beni23]

Maghanap na lang kayo ng LTO na wala masyadong tao. Pag nagrerenew ako ng license ko wala pang 1 hour tapos na.


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[Noel Salisipan]

3-working days bago mag-expire yung license ko nai-accomplish ko na yung mga kailangan at I-naknowledge na lang sa receiving yung application for renewal. Sad to hear, offline ang system (from a province) kaya balik na lang the following day.

The following day, same situation (offline at may sira ang system). On the day of expiration, hindi pa rin nai-renew dahil sa same problem.

Expired na yung license ko kaya napilitan akong mag-commute para mairenew, ok na ang system ang problema nung nagbabayad na ako may additional ng 75pesos for "late renewal". Hehehe, alam ko naman na may penalty pag late renewal, ang hindi ko lang maintindihan sakop pala ng provision nila kahit sa kanila nag-cause bakit inabot ng late renewal yung license ko, besides I-naknowledge naman na nila yung application ko bago pa man abutin ng expiration!

[HondaWay]

Common naman ang makupad na serbisyo sa karamihan ng government offices, nothing new.
Mas mabagal mas maeentice yung applicant maglagay. Business permit, sanitation clearance, kapag di ka maglagay next year mo na makukuha permit mo. Building permit ganyan din. Sana pwede record sa cellphone transactions sa governments para may evidence sa mga panggigipit nila.

[BratPAQ]

may bayad ba talaga yung pag gamit ng test vehicle? di ko maalala kung binayaran ko yun.

[jodski]

may bayad ba talaga yung pag gamit ng test vehicle? di ko maalala kung binayaran ko yun.

Kapag wala kang dala na sarili mo sir may bayad nga...
Ironically iba pa ang bayad and rates nyan between the motorcycle, the car, and the elf truck

[gearhead000]

alin kaya mas matagal - license renewal or vehicle registration? last renewal ko sa rob metro east inabot ng two days only because naabutan ng brownouts since after yata ng bagyo iyon. otherwise, mabilis naman sana. had my vehicle registered last october at natapos ko in less than 30 minutes. sa Cubao LTO sa may 15th avenue naman ito. medyo napatagal pa nga kasi sa labas pa ako nagpa-smoke emission test eh meron din pala sa loob. sort of a one-stop-shop talaga.

[1D4LV]

alin kaya mas matagal - license renewal or vehicle registration? last renewal ko sa rob metro east inabot ng two days only because naabutan ng brownouts since after yata ng bagyo iyon. otherwise, mabilis naman sana. had my vehicle registered last october at natapos ko in less than 30 minutes. sa Cubao LTO sa may 15th avenue naman ito. medyo napatagal pa nga kasi sa labas pa ako nagpa-smoke emission test eh meron din pala sa loob. sort of a one-stop-shop talaga.

on license renewals, i usually take around 30 mins. alabang town center satellite office.
for vehicle registration, around an hour and a half, las pinas district office.

[Retz]

mabilis lang renewal sa satellite office basta wala kang record.

[kenzie]

Panu ba process ng change of adress ? May hihingin pa ba proof of billing ? What if nakikitira lang ... Thanks

Pinsan ko gusto pa mag pa change of address para marikina na sya hindi bulacan eh kapag hinapan sya papeles ala naman sya papakita ....

[Redemption]

Mga ka Tsikot tanung ko lang po.. baka po masagot nyo o makatulong.. Nag rerenew ako ng license non-pro po, ang nangyari po eh hindi po irenew ng LTO yung license ko. ang sabi po nila ang sabi ng computer eh rejected po kase expired naraw po for the last 2 years yung license ko kahit pa po nakita naman nung tao ng LTO yung actual na license ko na valid sya at pinakita ko pa po yung original receipt na nagbayad ako para irenew yung license ko a few years ago. After consulting po with a supervisor sabi po nung LTO personnel na meron akong 2 options, 1st option eh mag intay ako ng 1 to 2 months para update yung records ng license ko sa main office and the 2nd option eh mag exam ako ng written at actual at babayaran ko yun at ma process today license ko. ang akin po eh yung 1st option ay gusto ko iwasan kase kelangan ko po magmaneho at mag eexpired na license ko, tinanung ko po kung bibigyan ako ng temporary drivers permit habang inaupdate yung record ko pero ang sagot hindi raw po, kaya bawal ako mag maneho until ma update sa computer and the 2nd option eh ang sakin po eh bakit po ako mag eexamine uli at mag babayad uli kung nagawa ko na yun dati pa nung ako ay bago pa lang nag aaply ng license at ang sakin lang eh hindi naman po ako ang me kasalanan bakit ako ang mag hihirap? i mean anjan naman po yung recibo at actual license ko na mag papatunay na nung huli ko ni renew ang license ko eh tama ang ginawa ko. ngayun ang iniisip ko po eh tutal napunta ako sa manila minsan eh isasabay ko na sa lakad yung pagpunta sa main office ng LTO at baka naman po hindi nako mag intay ng 1 hanggang 2 buwan bago ako makapag renew ng licensya??? tama po kaya yung gagawin ko na pag punta sa main office? at nakaranas napo ba kayo ng ganito at anu po ginawa nyo? salamat po..

[KERSMcRae]

Up..
Totoo ba na papel na lang daw ang iniissue ng LTO sa pagrenew ng DL?

[dr. d]

Up..
Totoo ba na papel na lang daw ang iniissue ng LTO sa pagrenew ng DL?

matagal na itong ginagawa.. kapag na-uubusan ng card.
i feel comfortable enough driving around with only the OR for a driver's license.
hassle lang yung babalik...

[Argie Dionisio]

matagal na itong ginagawa.. kapag na-uubusan ng card.
i feel comfortable enough driving around with only the OR for a driver's license.
hassle lang yung babalik...

Pwede ko ba papalitan yung temp DL sa ibang branch or dun dapat sa original branch na pinagrenewhan ko?

[CVT]

Agree.

And I'll be insane in a few days...


“The measure of a man is what he does with power – LJIOHF!”
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