The Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced on Sunday that it would stop requiring drivers license holders to undergo routine medical exams.
LTO director Jay Art Tugade said in a statement that he ordered the scrapping over the said requirement to “ease the burden” placed on drivers who must undergo recurrent medical exams in order to maintain their licenses.
Tugade cited studies showing that failure to go through medical examinations was a proven cause for road accidents.
He claimed that there was no scientific evidence that routine medical exams might stop car accidents.
Now that this change has been made, drivers are only obliged to go through a medical test when applying for a new license or renewing an existing one.
“For motorists who will be issued driver’s licenses with 5 or 10 years validity, the medical examination shall only be required 60 days prior to or on the specified renewal date,” Tugade said.
Prior to the requirement’s elimination, holders of 5-year licenses had to obtain medical clearances by the third birthdate following the license’s issue.
Ten-year license holders, however, had to go through medical checks on the fourth and seventh birthdate following the date their license was issued.
Meanwhile, Filipino driver’s license holders who are working or living abroad are required to undergo a medical exam within 30 days upon arrival in the Philippines before they can drive in the country, the LTO said.
