THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) yesterday set maximum prescribed fees for driving schools in response to complaints against expensive rates.
For motorcycle driving, the maximum total prescribed rate is P3,500 – P1,000 for theoretical driving course (TDC) and P2,500 for practical driving course (PDC).
For light vehicle driving, the maximum total prescribed rate is P5,000 – P1,000 for TDC and P4,000 for PDC.
LTO chief Jay Art Tugade said the cap on driving school fees will be effective on April 15.
“Ito pong omnibus guidelines in the accreditation and supervision of driving institutions will be effective April 15, 2023,” said Tugade.
He said penalties will be imposed on driving schools that will violate the policy:
* 1st offense – P50,000 fine and suspension of six months
* 2nd offense – P100,000 fine and one year suspension
* 3rd offense – revocation of accreditation issued to the driving school
Previously, there was no maximum rate set for driving school fees, according to Tugade. Some schools were reportedly charging up to P20,000.
Driving schools must hold 15-hour TDCs in two days, with the first seven hours on the first day and the remaining eight hours on the second day, Tugade said.
Practical driving instructions shall not be less than eight hours per driver’s license code applied for, he added.
Driving schools should enroll their clients’ information to the LTO System using the Land Transportation Management System Client ID to determine the starting date of the TDC amid the issue of “non-appearance” by some applicants.
The LTO said it would soon issue the Omnibus Guidelines on the Accreditation, Supervision, and Control of Driving Institutions, and the Standardization of Driver and Conductor’s Education.
Also, the LTO will lift the moratorium on applications to open driving schools starting today.
The moratorium was implemented during the time of former LTO chief Teofilo Guadiz III, or when studies for the amended guidelines for driving institutions first began. (GMA Integrated News)
