The Land Transportation Office extension office in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental is sticking to the old requirements for the renewal of professional driver’s license transactions.
Alberta Janine Lawas, LTO-Bayawan City chief, clarified Tuesday that this is in compliance with the Department of Transportation and Communication LTO Administrative Order No. AVT-015 suspending the new requirement for a professional driver’s license effective November 25.
The DOTC-LTO administrative order stipulates that due to the “non-availability of NBI offices in far flung areas and/or island provinces, the NBI clearance requirement under Section III B and C of Administrative Order No. AVT-2015-029 dated 22 September 2015 is hereby suspended” for the transactions for conductor’s license and subsequent transactions after the issuance of professional driver’s license such as renewal and additional restriction codes.
The old policy requiring clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation or the police for new professional driver’s license or change classification from non-professional to professional driver’s license shall remain in force, the order further read.
Applicants for professional driver’s license will still be required to present the usual requirements, such as a medical certificate and a drug test certificate, among others, Lawas said.
The LTO had temporarily suspended beginning last week its policy, which requires applicants for a professional driver’s license to obtain clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following the prodding of some senators recently.
The lawmakers had questioned the implementation of the new policy on NBI and police clearances as additional requirements for applicants for a professional driver’s license, especially for those who may have pending criminal cases.
Lawas, however, declined to comment on the reported “downgrading” of professional driver’s license to non-professional for individuals supposedly having committed certain crimes.
She explained it is a legal matter that only their legal department can address at the moment.
As far as the Bayawan-LTO office is concerned, everything is status quo for applicants for a driver’s license until further notice, Lawas added. (PNA)
