Outgoing LTO chief, Atty. Jayart Tugade, has signed a new memo that sets a PHP 300.00 cap on medical exam fees for Student Permit and Driver’s License applications/renewals.
According to Tugade, the fees that are currently being charged by LTO’s accredited clinics are exorbitant and puts a heavy burden on the public. “We can no longer set aside the many complaints that we receive regarding the high price of getting a medical certificate, with others paying PHP 500.00 to as much as PHP 700.00. This is too much for ordinary citizens,” said Tugade.
With this new memo, the maximum medical examination fee is capped at PHP 300.00, and LTO-accredited medical clinics can even lower the fee if they wanted to.
“Accredited medical clinics have several variances of fees and charges causing discrepancy of rates. For standardization, the LTO deemed it proper and necessary to set the specific maximum medical examination fees to be charged from driver-applicant by accredited medical clinics,” said the new Memorandum Circular.
Failure to comply with this new memo by accredited medical clinics will be meted with a PHP 10,000 fine and a 90-day accreditation suspension on the first offense, PHP 15,000 fine, and a 180-day accreditation suspension on the second offense. On the third offense, the LTO will perpetually revoke the accreditation of the clinic.
The new memo is expected to take effect 15 days after being published in a newspaper in general circulation and is received by the Office of the National Registry at UP Law Center sa Diliman, Quezon City.
