CIBAC Party-List Representatives Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Domeng Rivera have appealed to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to defer any plan of requiring drivers who will renew their licenses to undergo mandatory seminar.
The CIBAC lawmakers made the statement after the announcement of LTO-Region Office XI that it will hold mandatory seminar for drivers who will renew their licenses to drive for a validity up to ten years. However, it was eventually clarified by the Department of Transportation (DTOr) that this is just a proposal which is still under consultation.
“Though the DOTr has already clarified that such mandatory seminar is just a proposal for now, we appeal to the LTO to hold in abeyance any such plan while the entire country is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Deputy Speaker Villanueva, who is the House Deputy Speaker for Good Governance and Moral Uprightness.
“It will be an additional financial burden to the drivers and it will unnecessarily expose applicants to the virus which now have more potent variants. All the measures the government should take while braving this pandemic must be aimed at alleviating or cushioning the debilitating impact of COVID-19. Anything that will add up to their hardship should never be mulled at the first place,” according to Villanueva.
For his part, Rivera said they understand the noble objectives of the mandatory seminar but underscores that timing is essential and crucial.
“We are not against refresher seminars for drivers to ascertain their worthiness to be given a license. However, a well-intentioned policy yet ill-timed will lead to opposition. This policy can still wait until such time that we have adequately recovered from the pandemic,” said Rivera.