Well, this thread saved me a trip to the LTO tomorrow. Thank you for this information. I am waiting on my SRRV, which isn't due for another two weeks, so I might as well wait until October and avoid the "Sorry, sr." That still gives me enough time on my US license. I will still try to purchase a scooter and a car, though, before the SRRV comes through.
I wouldn't worry too much about the new licence laws, a tenant of mine recently got a licence at lto main office. He hadn't been here long but had to take a written test,he passed and the girlfriend failed. He got student licence then a couple weeks later he got his full licence. The funny thing was he was told if he brought anyone's papers who owned a car they would give a car licence also
When I got mine they wouldn't give me a motorcycle endorsement just car. Not that I was that worried about it.
Though on the website of LTO nothing is said about a drug test as only a medical test, the LTO branch in the Robinson Mall do require such. I went to Bais to check it out there and the result was the same. The officer @the customer service desk there told me it is only in region 7 that a drug test is required. So when apply for a renewal on Cebu or Mindanao no drug test needed. Another example that every region just make their own rules.
I'm not sure. There was an executive order to form region 18. Wether it was implemented is another story. Very little has been said about region 18 so I'm guessing it has not been implemented.