Friday, January 24, 2014

One step Closer to Independence: Getting a Student Driver's License...

I've always wanted to learn how to drive...
Maybe,  it's because I wanted to travel a lot and I'm tired of the inconvenience of commuting around...
So after my brother learned how to drive(which was years ago), I kept on bugging my mama about learning how drive.
And after years of postponing to learn it, I finally have the time to get a student driver's license and got the time to learn how to drive.

So, what's the point of telling you this? It's such a normal thing for a lot of families whose got the finances and buy a car. You would think that this is just another story of a girl....

Well, you got it all wrong...

I want to share to you on ... get this.... HOW TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE(Student's that is!!) IN METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES!!!

First things first...

There are many kinds of applications for different folks...
There are separate applications and requirements for Filipino Citizens and for Foreigners who are staying for a few months here in the Philippines...
There are different requirements, applications, fees and maybe tests for applying for Student, Non-Professional and Professional Driver's License...

Anyway what I will share here is just the process of getting a Student Driver's License. But the difference lies only on the fees, requirements, tests(if needed) and time target for each process.

REQUIREMENTS:
If you are a Filipino Citizen like me, all you need is to bring the ORIGINAL and a PHOTOCOPY of EITHER you Birth Certificate OR A Valid ID... Well, for me I presented the voter's ID.

WHAT TO BRING???
Bring your own ball pen, the proper requirements, money, and YOURSELF! You are needed for the Photo capturing and digital signature, so make sure you look good that day... =)
You can also bring candies or reading materials like a book or put a pdf or games in you phones or tab so you will not get easily bored with the whole thing, because the TV's volume is kept on the low(maybe because of the PA System).
PLUS, bring lots of PATIENCE, because a long queue in line needs a hefty amount of it. =)

Where to Go???
Go to your nearest Land Transportation Office(LTO) branches in your locality.
But wait!!! Don't confuse the Branches with LTO RENEWAL LICENSING OFFICES(the one that are inside the malls)... Because those offices inside the malls are just offering services only to RENEW CURRENT LICENSE HOLDERS... and they are not accepting or processing applications for Student or New Driver's License. So make sure to go to the right branches. =)
I hope this link will help...
http://www.ltolicensephilippines.com/category/branch-office/


WHAT TO DO???
Once inside the LTO Branch, go to the Information Desk where you can get the application forms. 
If you're in doubt of what to do and where to go once inside, you can ask the friendly security guards at the door to find such desk. =)
The person will ask you the kind of applicant you are and will tell you the requirements you need to present and give you the application form you need to fill out. In my case, it was a lady who told me to fill up the needed form and first return to her the form and to check my ID.




Once done with that, I was instructed to go to a window to submit my application form and the photocopy of my ID.
Once submitted to the right window, you will be asked to sit in the lobby to wait for your name to be called out in the Public Announcement(PA) System.
After they've checked your details and encode in in the computer, the PA System will call out the name/s of the applicant/s and indicate to which Window number you will proceed for the DIGITAL PHOTO CAPTURING AND SIGNATURE SAMPLING.
After which I was asked to wait to be called for the payment in the Cashier window through the PA System.
After payment, I was asked to wait in the lobby to be called for the releasing of my Student Driver's license in another window.



How LONG will you AGONIZE TO WAIT IN THE LINE???
The Target Time indicated in the huge tarpaulin was 1HOUR from the time the application form was first submitted for STUDENT DRIVER APPLICANTS.
But my actual processing time was about a little less than 1.5 hours. Not bad for a regular day where there were many applicants. It was not very boring considering the fact that the branch I went to has a flat tv hanging somewhere in the lobby. It was comfortable waiting in the lobby because of many available seats and fans to cool down the area(not that we need fans right now, because it's unsually cold now in Manila).

But for a NEW NON-PROFESSIONAL or PROFESSIONAL DRIVER APPLICANT the target time was 4HOURS and FOR THE RENEWAL OF LICENSES would be 2HOURS.
But given all the delays and human factors, I'd say alot additional hour to give leeway for everything.

WHY is there a difference in TIME TARGET FOR DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS AND APPLICANTS???
Because it will really depend from the time you stepped inside the branch to get and fill up the application form, to submit it to another window, the volume of the people applying for the same kind of application that you have, the processing of the personnel, the speed of the computers and other human factors.
Besides, there are different lanes for the 3 kinds of applications. So rest assure that the process is trying to do the promised targetted time allotment.



HOW MUCH FOR THE LICENSE????




For the STUDENT DRIVER'S LICENSE, I paid:
     Application Fee:          P100
     Student Permit Fee:       150
     Computer Fee:               67.63
-----------------------------------------------
For a Total of:                   317.63

But I also paid 2Pesos for the photocopy fee of my ID that was OUTSIDE the branch.
Plus transpo fee, if you are just a commuter like me.

But for other applicants, both new and renewal, this link that has schedule of fees might help, so go check this out...
http://www.lto.gov.ph/index.php/services/drivers-licensing/115-summary-of-drivers-license-and-permits-fees-and-charges


FAQ's???
For other queries, you can got to www.lto.gov.ph or check this link out for FAQ's...
http://www.lto.gov.ph/index.php/faqs/driver-s-licensing



IN CONCLUSION:
 I'd say that the waiting is not so agonizing at all, because I'm waiting on a seat with cool breeze from the fan and I brought something to read.
And they are campaigning for the REPUBLIC ACT 9485 (ANTI-RED TAPE ACT OF 2007). So beware of fixers and never transact with them. So that you will only pay the right amount of fees as guided in the schedule as the link above indicates. =)




I hope this will help aspiring drivers, like me, in obtaining their own licenses. Ciao for now. ;)


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