Agree with LTO’s move to scrap periodic medical exam? [Poll of the Week]

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced that holders of driver’s licenses with a five and 10-year validity are no longer required to undergo periodic medical examination (PME).  

Drivers with 5 and 10-year license validity no need to do periodic medical exam

As a review, the government agency previously required drivers to undergo PME if their licenses come with a five or 10-year validity. This measure aims to ensure that drivers are fit to drive given the extended license validity period. 

Drivers with a five-year license validity were required to undergo PME in the third year. On the other hand, drivers with a 10-year license validity needed to go through PME in the fourth and seventh years.    

But, the new LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade amended the agency’s Memorandum Circular 2021-2285, which pertains to the need for driver’s license holders with extended validity to undergo PME. This means that drivers with a five or 10-year license validity are no longer required to do PME.      

LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade

The agency stated that the PME doesn’t prove that it can prevent road crashes, which is why it has decided to forgo the said measure.  

“There’s no empirical data saying that the period medical examination could prevent road crashes,” LTO Chief Tugade said.

Tugade also believes that the removal of PME will give “convenience to the public because aside from reduced costs of periodic medical examinations, the valuable time of individuals, especially those who are working, will not be hindered.”

As such, medical examinations are now only required 60 days before or on the specified renewal date of either a five or 10-year driver’s license validity. Individuals who wish to undergo PME are still welcome.

The new directive yields more convenience among drivers with an extended license validity period. Drivers with a five or 10-year license validity don’t need to find time to subject themselves to a medical examination and update the LTO for up to 10 years.

Fewer trips to LTO

While it can give drivers more convenience, the new measure could also pose a potential problem moving forward. Theoretically speaking, there are several things that could happen to the driver’s overall medical condition in five or 10 years. 

The driver or person can be physically fit to drive a vehicle upon the issuance of a 10-year license validity. But what if, say for example, the condition and suitability of the driver’s vision change within the span of the extended validity period? The driver’s vision might start to deteriorate, requiring the need to wear eyeglasses while behind the wheel. Or what if the driver’s hearing start to weaken in the span of 10 years?

The said issue was raised last 2021 in a virtual meeting between the LTO, stakeholders, and consultants. Doctors present during the said virtual meeting noted that 10 years might be too long between the requisite medical exams as there are many things that can affect a driver’s health and fitness within that time.   

With that, do you agree with the LTO’s move to scrap the periodic medical exam for drivers with a five or 10-year license validity? Cast your vote now in Philkotse’s Poll of the Week.