The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will no longer require additional medical examinations for drivers with five and ten-year driver’s licenses. This follows the directive of LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade to amend LTO Memorandum Circular 2021-2285 or the Supplemental Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10930.
Under the memorandum, aside from the regular medical examination as a requirement for new or renewal driver’s license applications, those who have been granted a five or ten-year validity or license to drive are obligated to undergo a periodic medical exam (PME). The current rules state that the PME for individuals with a five-year validity driver’s license is done on the third year from the date of birth after obtaining the license, while for those with a ten-year validity driver’s license, it is done on the fourth and seventh year from the date of birth after obtaining the license.
The agency decided not to require the PME based on studies, gathered data, and consultations. It has also been found that failure to undergo periodic medical examination is not a factor in road accidents.
“There’s no empirical data saying that the periodic medical examination could prevent road crashes,” according to LTO Chief Tugade.
Under the implemented amendment, a mandatory medical examination will only be required once for those who will obtain or renew their driver’s licenses. For licenses issued with a five or ten-year validity driver’s license, the medical examination will only be required sixty (60) days prior to or on the specified renewal date.
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For Filipinos who hold driver’s licenses and work or reside in other countries, they will be required to undergo a medical examination within thirty (30) days of arriving in the Philippines before being allowed to drive.
