By Jane Bautista, Inquirer News
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has eased the requirement for periodic medical examinations for holders of driver’s licenses because the agency has not found any data to support that it could prevent road crashes.
Following studies, data collection and consultations, LTO Chief Jose Arturo Tugade said LTO “deemed it wise” to drop the periodic medical exam requirement.
“There’s no empirical data saying that the periodic medical examination could prevent road crashes,” Tugade said.
But in amending rules specified LTO Memorandum Circular No. 2021-2285, the medical exam requirement remains mandatory, but will only be done once, on or 60 days before the license’s expiration.
Under the new rules, “licensees who will be issued a five-year validity driver’s license and 10-year validity driver’s license, the medical examination shall only be required 60 days prior to or on the specified renewal date,” the LTO said in a statement.
For those working or living abroad, the LTO would require them to undergo a medical test within 30 days of their arrival in the country before they could drive again.
Previously, holders of five-year licenses were required to undergo a medical test on the third year after the issuance of license while 10-year license holders were supposed to have medical exams on the fourth and seventh after the license issuance.
