LTO- local driver's license conversion

I am curious to know how many of you have had challenges converting your driver's license to a local one. The seemingly new rules of 12 month stay/visa, has been a topic among many I have met.

Have you been refused a local licence?

 

I have an Australian (NSW) licence and I did mine in 2015 and have an SRRV which allows me residency and had no problem with the conversion licence but that was only to drive a car. I had to go back a month later to get the change in licence to allow the driving a bike - and then had a paper licence for about 10 months before the plastic one was issued.

 

I have also been refused on a Tourist Visa soon to be 12 months in the country, maybe I will try again when my year is up? Likely there will be a way to do it if you have a contact?

 

The best way is always to go directly to LTO office and ask them, because they are the ones who will make a decision. That may depend on your kind of Visa or the country issuing your drivers license or something else only the Dumaguete LTO office knows about...
At least, their customer service desk was very helpful and gave me all the informations I needed to prepare for converting my drivers license.

 

I would think any foreigner here would only go to the LTO office in the first instance as I did, after all it is the only place to get a PH License.

The customer service desk told me I cannot get this on a 6 months Tourist Visa, (which is all that is possible for me to get) all that was said to me was; I needed a Visa for 1 year before I can apply, then directly she turned to the next customer, others I know that were at that same office for the same service are under the impression that you need to be here for a year if on a Tourist Visa?

I know of at least one Foreigner who managed to get it with a Financial arrangement, maybe he managed to get it with a donation to the office tea fund Haha, this particular person is a very honest man and I have no reason to doubt him.

 

The reason I ask, is because I was told the same. BUT....If you read the government website, you will... probably understand it says something else.

Basically a fixer offered me to get it for 7000, I declined.

I was refused licence..

I still managed to get it without fixer, because I read the regulation carefully and proceeded to insist.

I have my licence now, I don't have 12 months visa..nor been 12 months.

Read the government website and don't give up.

I am able to write this because I did not use a fixer, if I was to use one...I would be pretty stupid exposing myself here.

Just a heads up to everyone

 

Went to the LTO in Kawit today to get my Philippines
Drivers lic. Talk to the guy at the help desk. He sent me to a guy at a table outside. He wanted to see my U.S. lic and ACR card. I’m thinking wow this will be a go. He told me go to door 6. So I looked around, no door 6. So I go inside the bigger building. Wow a lot of people. I see door 6, make my way through the crowd. Knock on the door and he let’s me in.I tell him I want convert my U.S. to a P.I lic. He tell me he can’t do that here, I need to go to Manila.I had looked online I did see anywhere that only Certain LTO can do this.
Has anyone else run into this?

 

yes its called pass the buck, he doesn't want to make you mad by te4lling you no, so he sends youn to someone else to tell you no.