Last week, House Deputy Speaker, Cong. Rufus Rodriguez called for the removal of the LTO’s Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE). The CDE acts as a kind of refresher course for drivers and motorcycle riders who are renewing their privilege to drive a motor vehicle.
A CDE and its corresponding certificate are FREE if accessed through the LTMS portal or at any LTO branch, and will be issued to the driver/motorcycle rider once he or she finishes the course.
“This is an additional expense for our Filipino people. So millions are driving and many of them like in Cagayan de Oro, they are sikad, trisikad drivers, habal habal drivers, now requiring them to renew their licenses, to be able to get first a certificate of CDE,” said Rodriguez. Rodriguez also cited the current pandemic as another reason for the LTO to stop the CDE, “because it poses a risk to the health of thousands who will renew their licenses”.
Rodriguez added that the DOJ, through Usec. Emmeline Aglipay Villar said that the justice department welcomed his House Resolution No. 2325 which calls for the CDE's removal.
The DOJ held that while the imposition of the CDE and certification requirement “is a function necessary, proper and incidental to the power of the LTO to issue driver’s licenses, it is a function that properly pertains to the LTO and it is not contemplated by EO No. 1101, series of 1985, that said function be performed by an LTO-accredited driving school or institution.”
CDE is FREE
While it is true that the CDE will cost an arm and leg of Juan Dela Cruz, it is FREE when taken through the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) portal, or through any of LTO’s district and regional offices.
In fact, you are a smartphone user and have access to the internet, just log in and create an account at the LTMS portal at https://portal.lto.gov.ph/. From there, you can start with the CDE online course and can even take it 60 days prior to your driver’s license renewal.
