LTO loosens medical test procedure for license renewal

MANILA: Because there is no evidence to indicate that periodic medical exams for license holders can reduce traffic accidents, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has loosened the requirement.

After doing research, gathering data, and consulting with stakeholders, LTO Chief Jose Arturo Tugade stated that LTO "deemed it wise" to remove the requirement for a periodic medical test.

“There’s no empirical data saying that the periodic medical examination could prevent road crashes,” Tugade said in a report.

The medical exam requirement is still in place as part of the amended requirements as stated in LTO Memorandum Circular No. 2021-2285, but it will only need to be completed once, at least 60 days prior to the license expiration.

As a result of the new regulations, "licensees who will be issued a five-year validity driver's license and a 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.

Those who are employed or residing outside of the country must pass a medical examination within 30 days of their arrival in order to resume driving, according to the LTO.

Previously, those with five-year licenses had to have a medical exam the third year after receiving their license, while those with 10-year licenses had to have medical exams the fourth and seventh years after receiving their license.

Photos from Land Transportation Office and Dylan Afuang 

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