LTO suspends 3 more driving schools for non-appearance service

It seems more driving schools continue to offer "non-appearance" services to drivers so they can easily pass the tests and skip critical steps in the license renewal process.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a Show Cause Order (SCO) and 30-day suspension to erring driving schools that were allegedly offering non-appearance services to drivers. LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II said a driving school in Las Piñas City and Caloocan City, as well as a driving school in Silang, Cavite, were the subject of intelligence reports of facilitating the issuance of Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) and Practical Driving Course (PDC) certificates.

The two documents are the major requirements in the application for a driver’s license.

“We have confirmed information about the wrongdoings of these driving schools. They are now the subject of an investigation and part of the due process is to issue them with an SCO,” said Mendoza.

“But we already issued a 30-day preventive suspension on them pending the result of the ongoing investigation,” he added.

Based on the investigation, the 3 driving schools were issuing PDC and TDC certificates despite the non-completion of the required hours and seminar for their students. Mendoza said the driving schools were also issuing PDC and TDC certificates for students who did not actually undergo the two courses for certain payment.

“This illegal practice is dangerous. It must be stopped since those who were issued with fraudulent driver’s licenses would most likely endanger the lives of road users for lack of proper training and education,” said Mendoza.

In the SCO signed by Greg Pua, Jr., chairman of the LTO-Central Accreditation Committee on Driving Institutions, the three driving schools were asked to explain in writing why they should not be punished on the existing LTO rules, particularly the LTO Memorandum Circular No. VDM-2023-2460, or the Revised Omnibus Guidelines on the Accreditation, Supervision, and Control of Driving Institutions, and Standardization of Driver and Conductor's Education.

“You are directed to submit your verified answer within five (5) days of receipt of this Order, providing an explanation why no disciplinary action should be taken against your driving school,” the SCO read.

“Failure to submit your verified answer within the specified timeframe will result in an ex parte proceeding. Non-compliance will be construed as a waiver of your right, leading this Committee to resolve the case based on the available records,” it added.

Earlier, the LTO also ordered a 30-day suspension against two driving schools in Lucena City and San Sebastian, Tarlac for the same offense.