The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has recently announced that drivers who are scheduled to renew their driver's licenses (DL) can now take the Comprehensive Driver's Education (CDE) 60 days before their renewal date, or even earlier.
"[The] Comprehensive Driver's Education Online Validation Exam may be taken 60 days or earlier prior to the expiration of the Driver's or Conductor's License, in all LTO Offices where 10-year validity driver's license is implemented," said the LTO through their official social media page.
The best part is that once drivers pass the CDE, its certification has no expiration date.
"CDE Certificate of Completion has NO expiration as per Memorandum dated 14 October 2021," adds LTO.
The CDE is FREE if taken through any of the LTO's Driver Education Centers or through the LTMS portal. The CDE is NOT FREE if taken through any of the LTO's accredited driving schools.
Prone to fixers?
While this decision by the LTO to allow drivers to take the CDE at their own time and at their own pace deserves praise, we cannot deny the fact that enterprising individuals may also take this opportunity to take advantage of the rather lax implementation of the CDE requirement for their own gain.
For example: since there is no expiration date for the CDE certification, some enterprising individuals AKA fixers could just make up a certificate for drivers that supposedly “proves” they have indeed taken the CDE - for a fee in favor of the fixer/s, of course.
LTMS
Easily, the best option to take the CDE is through the Land Transportation Management System or LTMS, which is basically the LTO's online portal for driver's license holders. The LTMS’ e-Learning portal gives duly-licensed motorists access to licensing information, driving fundamentals, road courtesy and safety, motor vehicle registration, land transportation-related laws, and much more, including an introduction to the theoretical exams for non-professional drivers, professional drivers, and conductors.
The LTMS can be accessed anytime, anywhere, 24/7, even on your mobile phone. To register, just visit this site: https://portal.lto.gov.ph/. The LTMS registration is absolutely FREE of charge.
