LTO Central Visayas aims to complete 30,000 theoretical driving courses before yearend

CEBU, Philippines – The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7) aims to have 30,000 student drivers complete their theoretical driving course (TDC) program by the end of 2022, Regional Director Victor Caindec said on Tuesday, October 18.

Caindec said the LTO-7 has already trained 20,000 student drivers since the course launched in September 2020 but has been experiencing setbacks in its campaign to upgrade the capacity and efficiency of services.

All applicants for a student permit need to accomplish a 15-hour TD, according to LTO Memorandum Circular No. 2019-2176.

Currently, the program is offered free as a scholarship at many LTO education centers in the country.

LTO-7 currently has only two accredited instructors for the program and is in the process of adding two more instructors.

“The challenge is fixing the schedules because of all the requests that are coming in,” Caindec said.

The regional office will continue coordinating TDC schedules with local government units (LGUs), especially barangays, he added.

LTO Central Visayas Director Victor Caindec said that the office aims to have at least 30,000 graduates from its theoretical driving course program.

“We have about 20,000 scholars in our TDC (scholarship) program since it started in September 2020,” Caindec said. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/z3ACqjh6h4

— John Sitchon (@TheJohnSitchon) October 18, 2022

Setbacks

During the media forum, Caindec said he faced “a lot of forces that had institutionalized some of the practices that made it difficult for people to do transparent transactions with LTO.”

In October, the LTO began a series of investigations into reports of driving schools that were allegedly offering certifications where applicants do not have to appear for their TDCs. 

The director assured the public that these cases have been endorsed to the National Bureau of Investigation.

Caindec said that at the moment, LTO has been investigating driving schools that have been allegedly issuing illegal driving certificates.

There are at least 80 driving schools accredited by LTO in Central Visayas. @rapplerdotcom

— John Sitchon (@TheJohnSitchon) October 18, 2022

On August 22, five councilors and the vice mayor of Panglao town in Bohol, Noel Hormachuelos, signed a resolution urging the President to not reappoint Caindec as the regional director of LTO-7.

The officials alleged that Caindec falsified documents by forging the signature of a doctor whose signature appeared on medical certificates issued to student permit applicants.

Caindec responded to the accusations in a Facebook post on September 19, pointing out the “inaccuracy” of the statements made by the officials. 

– Rappler.com