Best Posts in Thread: New LTO Driver's License Law

1st, the rule only applies to the LTO officer he spoke to at whatever office he was at. Every Officer will have their own interpretation and desire to enforce it based on how they feel at the time you are in front of them.

As far as not being able to purchase, I went into GUD 11 days ago and bought a new bike which is registered in my name, as is the insurance. Used my passport # and apartment address. So, I don't know if a person "can" buy a bike or insurance without a Philippine license, but I do know that I just did.

 

Another day, another change of rules:
Philippines Drivers License rule change for foreigners is now in effect. LTO driver's license rule change. A foreigner will not be issued a drivers license either by conversion or new test unless he is a permanent resident. He must be able to prove residency by having a 13a marriage visa or a SRRV (visa). Watch my new video to see why!!



Present license holders can renew.

 

I bump it

Say you dont have yourinternational licence with you and show your valid home country licence.
Sometime they will ask for passport to check for entry date but most of the time they let you go.
Polite and friendly attitude helps alot.

 

I am not a lawyer but this legal proceeding should not be this complicated.
Cancel the existing non-bid (illegal) contact.
Go thru the bid process and get a supplier.
Let the aggrieved party file a case for damages.

 

They are just giving an answer a few months down the road. They really don't know. I got my Philippine license (Foreign Conversion) in early October and the man who handed me the receipt kind of grinned and said the permanent one would come in December.

I asked my Filipino friend, who is highly-placed politically, about it and he said no one knows how long it will take. As best I recall the details he told me: The plastic blanks are manufactured under an exclusive contract with the government. That contract was challenged by other companies and politicians because it was awarded as a no-bid sweetheart deal. The whole mess is now tied up in court with the actual manufacture of the blanks halted under court order.

The legal process is arcane and slow in so many countries, the Philippines being one of them. I bet even the judge could not give a definitive answer as to when the LTO will have blanks again.

 

The guy in the video had a lot of facts screwed up. like the American owned his own house but couldn't get a drivers licence, he couldn't sell a car as a foreigner and so on. I wouldn't take one word he said as fact...

 

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.

 

Good to see that word PERMIT as that is what it is. Not a Driving Licence. It merely Translates the License you are Driving on into English and Pointing out the Authorized categories you are allowed to Drive in your own Country or where that Particular License was issued.
Of course it can only be used in conjunction with your Actual license.
As I understand it from the Spanish Driving Authority on International Driving

 

I could really imagine someone at LTO saying:

LTO guy "Your international driver's license is no good here because you need to be international to use it."
Foreigner "But I am international as I'm not from this country".
LTO guy "But here your domestic so you need a domestic license even if your a foreigner"
Foreigner "So when is my international license useful"
LTO guy "When your in another country sir"
Foreigner "I am in another country, this isn't my home country"
LTO guy "No sure, this isn't an international country, its the Philippines so you need a Philippines license sir".

Rinse and repeat until slash your own wrists.

 

According to the linked web site, in order to receive the Int'l Driving Permit you must present a valid Philippines driver license. The permit is for use while traveling outside the Philippines.