UPDATE: The LTO just suspended this scheme (1/9).

Just a reminder for those applying for a Student-Driver’s Permit or a Driver’s License (including renewals): you can only use medical certificates issued by LTO-accredited doctors and clinics.

This has come back to light because of the LTO’s decision to disallow hard copy medical certificate for the purposes of applying for a Student-Driver’s Permit and Driver’s/Conductor’s Licenses. In lieu of that, the LTO says that only electronically submitted medical certificates will be allowed. And for doctors and clinics to have access to the LTO IT system, they must be first accredited with the LTO.

This news is certainly a bummer for those who plan to use their personal or company physician to generate the LTO’s required medical certificate. For those who don’t have a personal doctor though, there’s no need to worry. Based on the the LTO’s partial list of accredited doctors and clinics, most of them are located near the vicinity of an LTO office / license renewal center.

If you want the full dates of implementation, it’s here:

• NCR West, NCR East, Region 11 – January 7, 2019
• Region 5, Region 4A, Region 4B, Region 7 – January 14, 2019
• Region 6, Region 9, Region 12 – January 21, 2019
• Region 1, Region 2, Region 3 – January 28, 2019
• Region 10, Region 8, CAR, CARAGA – February 4, 2019

According to the LTO, the first day of this new process hasn’t gone smoothly. The agency has cited delays and system down times due to this service. As the government seeks to fix the problems, they are advising people to expect delays during Driver’s License application and renewal. They are waiving late penalty charges as they aim to fix the problem.