The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has scrapped the periodic medical examination (PME) requirements for holders of driver’s licenses with either five-year or 10-year validity.
This came about following the directive issued by LTO chief Jay Art Tugade to amend LTO Memorandum Circular 2021-2285 or the Supplemental Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10930.
Tugade said he ordered the scrapping of regular medical exams to ease the burden of motorists.
In the prevailing guidelines, for those with a driver’s license that carries a five-year validity, a PME is conducted on the third year of the date of birth after the license was issued. For those with a driver’s license that is valid for 10 years, the PME is conducted on the fourth year and seventh year of the date of birth after the license was issued.
But according to Tugade, the agency deemed it wise to waive the PME requirement based on various studies which showed failure to undergo PME is not a proven cause of road accidents.
“There’s no empirical data showing that periodic medical examinations could prevent road crashes,” he said.
Under the amended circular, the mandatory medical examination will now be a requirement only before applying for, and during the renewal, of a driver’s license.
Filipino driver’s license holders who are working or are living abroad will be required to undergo a medical examination within 30 days of their arrival in the Philippines before they are allowed to drive in the country.
