Online driver’s license renewal for OFWs set for second pilot run

LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II | Photo by Jown Manalo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — With the aim of improving the online driver’s license renewal system for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced on Wednesday that a second pilot implementation is set for December.

According to LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, a second pilot implementation is crucial to address the gaps identified in the first run and to improve the service, ensuring greater convenience for more OFWs.

“We’re ready to proceed with a second pilot run next month. We’ve learned a lot from the previous one—mistakes, important processes—and now, we aim to address all these concerns. This is why we are prepared to conduct a second pilot run to thoroughly test our systems,” Mendoza said in a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday.

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Mendoza expressed hopes of resolving the issues encountered during the first pilot run, paving the way for the online service’s expansion to more countries.

“This will be the second pilot run, building on the lessons learned in Taiwan, to correct the mistakes there and enhance the proper practices so that when it rolls out to other countries, it will already be well-organized,” he said.

Mendoza added that one major challenge faced during the digital renewal process was the shortage of doctors in LTO-accredited telemedical facilities, which are responsible for issuing medical certificates required for license renewal.

“There was a slight queue among our applicants because the number of doctors in the accredited telemedical facility online was limited. To address this, we plan to add more. Additionally, there will be more medical clinics available for our secondary pilot run,” he said.

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In September, the LTO conducted its first pilot implementation of a digital driver’s license renewal system in Taiwan, targeting approximately 400 OFWs in Taichung and Kaohsiung.

“Our OFWs no longer need to wait until they return to the Philippines to renew their licenses, as they can now do so near their workplaces and residences in Taiwan,” Mendoza then said in a statement.

He also previously explained that online service is a result of an agreement between the LTO and the Department of Migrant Workers.

The collaboration aims to “streamline the process of renewing the driver’s license of OFWs by having the entire process done completely online.”

Mendoza outlined the following requirements for renewing driver’s licenses online:

• A driver’s license expiring within 60 days, or expired within two years, from the date of expiration, and no revision of records to be made prior to renewal
• Active LTMS (referred thereafter as “LTO Portal”) account with OFW’s biometric profile captured
• Online Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) certification taken from the LTO Portal
• Medical certificate provided by an LTO-accredited telemedical facility
• A reliable internet connection
• A smartphone with an Apple AppStore or Google Play Store installed

“Once the OFW has paid the renewal of its license, LTO will then print its license card and notify him once the card is ready for shipping,” he added.