Motorists holding driver’s licenses valid for five and 10 years no longer need to undergo periodic medical examinations, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced on Sunday (April 16).
LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade the move will ease the burden of motorists who are periodically required to secure medical clearances.
Before the memorandum circular was released, five-year license holders are required to secure medical clearances during the third birthdate from license issuance. Those with 10-year licenses, on the other hand, are scheduled for medical examination on the fourth and seventh birthdates from the issuance of their license.
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According to the LTO, scrapping the medical exams was based Tugade noted that the move was based on studies, data collected, and consultations that showed “failure to undergo periodic medical examinations is not a proven cause of road accidents.”
“There’s no empirical data showing that periodic medical examinations could prevent road crashes,” Tugade said.
However, the mandatory medical exams shall is still required before applying for and during renewal of driver's license.
“For motorists who will be issued driver’s licenses with five or 10 years validity, the medical examination shall only be required 60 days prior to or on the specified renewal date,” the LTO chief said.
Meanwhile, Filipinos holding a driver's license 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.
“We at the LTO believe that this move will ease the burden of our motorists,” Tigade said. “This not only reduces their expenses on medical exams, it will also enable them to focus on their work. They are, however, free to undergo a medical exam as they wish.”
