LTO to push implementation of standard rates on driving school fees

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced that it is pushing the implementation of standard rates on driving school fees on April 15.

LTO will implement the new driving school rates on April 15

This announcement follows the Association of Accredited Driving Schools of the Philippines, Inc.’s (AADSPI) appeal to postpone the implementation of Memorandum Circular No. JMT-2023-2390, or “Omnibus Guidelines on the Accreditation, Supervision, Control of Driving Institutions, and the Standardization of Driver and Conductor’s Education.”

According to AADSPI, the rollout of the price cap will bring operational and financial challenges that “may affect the quality of services” it delivers. While the group assures its cooperation with the LTO, it is asking the agency to move the effective date as there was insufficient preparation for the new system.

The AADSPI has appealed to the agency to postpone the implementation of the new rates

However, LTO Chief Jayart Tugade stated that a fair cost analysis for the maximum prescribed rates was discussed with the agency’s Technical Working Group (TWG). He added that driving schools took part in the discussions, with the LTO hearing their feedback.

Under the new system, the maximum Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) rate will be Php 1,000, which is a significant update as outgoing rates average around Php 2,000. Meanwhile, the new standard rates for the Practical Driving Course (PDC) are as follow:

• A and A1 – Php 2,500
• B, B1, and B2 – Php 4,000
• C, D, and CE – Php 8,000

“Malabo na nating ipagliban pa ang implementasyon ng bagong driving school rates. Hindi pupuwedeng maging bingi ang LTO sa mga panawagan ng higit na nakarami laban sa napakamahal na bayarin sa mga driving school. Panahon na para maging abot-kaya sa publiko ang pagkuha ng driver’s license nang hindi nakokompromiso ang kalidad ng pagkatuto ng mga aplikante,” said the LTO Chief.

(It is unlikely for us to postpone the implementation of the new driving school rates. The LTO cannot disregard the concern of the majority against the costly fees at driving schools. It is time for acquiring a driver’s license to be attainable for the public without compromising the quality of education for applicants.)

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