ILOILO City — Thousands of aspiring drivers in Western Visayas may soon gain access to free driver education and professional licensing.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is launching a pioneering Driver’s License Scholarship Program aimed at producing disciplined motorists while opening new employment opportunities for ordinary Filipinos.
The initiative, the first of its kind in the country, was selected as the pilot model for a planned nationwide rollout, with Western Visayas tapped to spearhead the government’s free end-to-end driver education program.
LTO regional director Atty. Gaudioso Geduspan II said the scholarship program would remove the financial barriers that prevent many Filipinos from obtaining professional driver’s licenses and accessing jobs in transport, logistics, and delivery services.
“This is an end-to-end program until the scholar finally gets his driver’s license. We will be producing disciplined and quality drivers,” Geduspan said.
The program will fully shoulder the entire licensing process — from theoretical instruction to practical driving training and eventual issuance of professional driver’s licenses.
Under the scholarship package, beneficiaries will first undergo a mandatory Theoretical Driving Course focused on road safety and traffic laws before securing student permits. They will then proceed to hands-on Practical Driving Course sessions aimed at strengthening real-world driving competence and road discipline.
Those who complete the training will receive professional driver’s licenses at no cost.
The agency said the program is intended not only to expand access to legal licensing but also to address the persistent problem of untrained motorists and road safety risks.
LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao chose Western Visayas as the pilot region for the initiative, citing its potential to improve both employment prospects and public safety.
The pilot launch is scheduled on May 27, 2026 at the Iloilo Convention Center, with Lacanilao expected to lead the formal kickoff ceremonies.
Licensing activities will be conducted through the Iloilo City Licensing Center and selected licensing offices located at Robinsons malls in Pavia, Jaro, and Festive Walk Mall./PN
