Senate okays 5-year driver’s license validity

The Senate approved on final reading the bill extending the validity of driver’s license from 3 to 5 years. Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1449 was authored by Senators Ralph Recto, Richard Gordon, JV Ejercito, and Joel Villanueva. It was given the green light with 21 affirmative votes.

Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services and sponsor of SBN 1449, hopes that this “initiative will immediately be felt by ordinary citizens."

Existing driver’s license will still follow their current expiration date. The 5-year validity will take effect upon renewal with requirements same as before.  

Poe added that licenses would not cost more. The current fee for new driver’s license is P820.26 (including application and computer fee), while the renewal fee costs P652.63. Poe also said that the new driver’s license is equipped with better security features such as a hologram mark and a ‘hidden data.’

When scanned, the barcode can easily inform police officers of any violation committed by the driver. In the bill, we will require all agencies and even the local government units issuing traffic violations to continue this practice of uploading violations to the LTO's system within 24 hours," said Poe.

The bill is also requiring the LTO to create an online application process for the renewal of professional and non-professional licenses. In addition, Poe said that the LTO is currently in the process of revising the examination questions for license applications in order to have more responsible and safer drivers.