NEARLY seven out of every ten or 66.32 percent of driving schools that were approved by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) failed to comply with minimum documentary requirements or were lacking in facilities and equipment.
This was revealed in the 2022 Compliance Audit on LTO contained in the audit of the DOTr and released by the Commission on Audit.
“One hundred eighty-nine (189) or 66.32 percent of 285 driving school applicants were issued with provisional permits/certificates of accreditation despite the submission of incomplete/invalid documentary requirements and/or deficiencies in the required facilities and equipment,” the audit team said.
These conditions were observed in the DOTr-Cordillera Administrative Region, LTO-National Capital Region, and LTO Regional Offices 3 (Central Luzon), 5 (Bicol), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), and 12 (Soccsksargen).
“The audit team concluded that, because of the significance of the matter noted in the audit, the accreditation of driving school applicants was not in compliance with Sections 9, 10, and 14 of LTO Memorandum Circular No. 2021-2284,” the COA said.
Sections 9 and 10 enumerated the required documents for accreditation and the list of facilities and equipment that a driving school must put up before being allowed to provide lectures on theoretical and practical driving courses.
Sections 11 and 14, on the other hand, covered requirements for the operation of heavy vehicles.
The audit team said the compliance audit covered applications from driving schools received between January to June 2022.
LTO regional accreditation committees (RACs) received and evaluated the documents submitted and conducted onsite inspections to determine the existence and specifications of facilities and equipment.
However, it was the Assistant Secretary and the Regional Director concerned who approved accreditations and provisional permits for driving schools.
Verifications made by the audit team uncovered anomalies and inaccuracies in the assessments made by the LTO RACs.
“The actual condition of these sites is not only inconsistent with the MC (memo circular) but also with the representations made by the RACs in their inspection reports. This means that the inspection reports of the RACs cannot be relied upon,” auditors stressed.
They recommended that the LTO submit authenticated copies of required documents, including bank certificates to establish financial capability.
The audit team said the LTO should make sure that maneuvering tracks, classrooms, library, and motor vehicles being used for driving lessons are compliant with minimum standards.
At the same time, it urged the regulatory agency to penalize driving schools that submitted invalid documents to obtain accreditation.
The identified LTO regional offices acknowledged the audit observations and informed the COA that actions have been taken to address the issues raised.
