LTO scraps periodic medical exam requirement for driver’s license holders

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 16) – Holders of driver's licenses with five-year and 10-year validity are not anymore required to undergo Periodic Medical Examination (PME), the Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced Sunday.

LTO chief Jay Art Tugade said the agency decided to waive the PME because studies show the failure to undergo PME is not included among the causes of road accidents.

“There’s no empirical data saying that the Periodic Medical Examination could prevent road crashes,” he added.

The LTO removed the PME requirement following Tugade’s directive to amend LTO Memorandum Circular 2021-2285 or the “Supplemental Implementing Rules and Regulations” of Republic Act 10930.

Under the memorandum circular, holders of driver’s licenses with five-year validity should undergo medical exam by the third birthdate from the issuance of the license. On the other hand, holders of driver’s licenses with 10-year validity should undergo medical exam by the fourth and seventh birthdates from the issuance of the license.

Under the amended circular, only one medical exam is required for the renewal of a driver's license.

“For licensees who will be issued a five-year validity driver’s license and 10-year validity driver’s license, the medical examination shall only be required 60 days prior to or on the specified renewal date,” it added.

For Filipino driver's license holders working abroad, they are required to have a medical exam within 30 days upon their arrival in the Philippines before they are allowed to drive in the country.