Driving in dumaguete

So my friend you have already Hired and Ridden a M/C here so I now wonder, why your Question in the First Place?
Trying to avoid the Police sounds suspect to me and Not exactly Sight seeing as you mentioned in your Opening post. Is it?

 

What are you implying Jack? We were sightseeing, around Siquijor and Negros! Do you want pictures to prove it? I can ride legally in the UK on a student permit so my question was whether i could in the Philippines. The reason we avoided the checkpoints last time was because she never had any license! Not me.

 

Thank you for your reply, I now have a full drivers license. I was taking my tests when I first posted this.

 

When I first got to Dumaguete I was able to drive a car because I had a 4 Wheeled automobile driver's license. I still bought a motor bike and rode it because it was a pain at LTO do to anything.

Here is the deal. If you come to Dumaguete with just a 4 wheel (car) driver's license. That is all you can legally drive for up to 30 days, I think. Regardless, your visa is only good for 30 days. If you plan to stay longer. I advise you to get a Philippines driver's license especially if you use credit cards or ATM debit cards from other countries. When you have a local government ID card it is easier for the cashier to comprehend what you gave her. If you give her any other ID especially from outside of the Philippines. You will be sitting there waiting at least 10 min as she tries to read the card. Yes! 10 min. Not exaggerating.

On to the driver's license. Like I said. If you got a car driver's license then all you can drive LEGALLY is a car here in Philippines. If you come over with a motorbike/motorcycle license then you can drive those.

If you want to legally drive a motorbike in Philippines and you did not come over with a motorbike license. Then, you have to get a Philippines driver's license. Here is the kicker...

They will convert your out of country driver's license and duplicate the contents into the Philippines driver's license. Which means if you come over with car only, that is all you get on your driver's license. If you come over with car and motorbike, then that is what they will put on your Philippines driver's license AT FIRST.

So, to get a LEGAL motorbike license if you only have a car license means having to get the car license first. Pay for Medical and the legal fees for the first license. Then, you must wait 2 months from the date of issue from first card, then reapply for an restriction upgrade. Restrictions are classified as 1 for motorbikes and 2 for cars. To get the second Philippines driver's license with both restrictions on it. You much pay fees again to Medical and pay fees for another License.

You are looking at about:
First license: CAR ONLY
Medical: 400-500php for medical. Pee in a cup and blood pressure. Seriously! 20 min tops
Driver's License restriction 2 only: 550php

2 Months Later: Add Motorbike to your car license.
Medical: 400-500php
Driver's License: 550php give or take.

Just to put a "1" on the license!!!

 

A Bigger kicker is now, if you have not been here over 1 year or can't prove you will be here a year by Visa's you will Not got get a license at all.

 

I actually got my license the first month I got there. They gave me a hard time about it because they asked me how long I was here but I told them I was moving here. I found out that they will give you a temp license at first. Useless piece of paper that no one honors. I said that I will be back in 3 weeks from the states. So, instead of waiting till i get back and do my license since it will take almost a month to get my hard copy license. I said why don't we do it now and by the time I get back, I will have my license in my hand. Also, helped me out because I only had to wait about 3 weeks to apply for my motorbike license.

they make the simplest things so completed..... I almost put my own head in the wall because of the dumaguete lto.

 

Reading some of the posts here lead me to the conclusion that the attitude is one of " I'm a westerner therefore I can get what I want " .....Good luck with that . I wonder what attitude certain posters here have of incomers of the country they left to be here.
Me, I've abided by the rules and regulations of the adopted country I chose to live in.
In the UK every move you make on the highways Plod, BIB , rozzers, peelers, wooly suits , coppers, I could go on with the acronyms but dear reader you get the gist. To be able to proceed ( with great caution and diligence ) without checking for roadside radar traps hidden behind blind spots to bust the unwary is something I relish .
I drive both two and four wheels here , same as I did in the UK , it's a privilege not a right . If it's too much bother to follow the correct procedure and gain the licenses ( and visas ) to live and drive legally here , then do the folk that do follow the rules and regs a big favour and feck off from whence you came with all the haste you can muster.