LTO sets PHP 300 price cap on license medical fees

This could very well be LTO chief Jay Art Tugade's final memorandum as the assistant secretary of the agency.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has announced there will be a maximum prescribed rate on medical examination fees required to obtain or renew driver's licenses. From the previous PHP 450-700 pesos being charged by accredited medical clinics, the latest memorandum circular states that they can no longer charge more than PHP 300.

Tugade signed the memorandum circular which will take effect 15 days after a certified copy has been filed on the Office of the National Registry. This means the memorandum will take effect sometime next month.

The memorandum circular applies to all accredited medical clinics and health facilities that perform medical, physical, optical, and other necessary examinations for the application of student permits, renewal, and the new application of non-professional/professional driver's licenses, as well as conductor's licenses.

Medical clinics that will not abide by the memorandum circular will face a 90-day suspension and a PHP 10,000 fine for the first offense, while a 180-day suspension with PHP 15,000 penalty applies to those who will be caught for the second time. The third offense will see a permanent revocation of accreditation for medical clinics.

Previously, the LTO has already removed the periodic medical examination for both 10-year and 5-year license holders. And along with this memorandum, motorists who are about to renew their licenses can look forward to fees being easier on their wallets.