Amazement from Drivers License Renewal in Siquijor

Location : LTO (Land Transportation Office), Siquijor Poblacion, Siquijor Island, Philippines

Expired Drivers License
My driver's license has expired for nearly 10 years. I never found the need to renew my license because I was completely content on commuting with my bicycle or taking public mass transport. All that changed with my move to Siquijor.

A Bike wasn't Good Enough
Even though I had a bicycle, it was only a small folding bike that was ideal for transporting on a jeep or interisland ferry. It's heavy, it's got only 20" wheels and its gears are either too tall or too short - definitely not for the long uphill rides required in Siquijor. Public mass transport is severely restricted that if I miss the 2pm last trip, I have to pay exorbitant motorcycle fees to get home. It was imperative to go around on a motorbike. But for me to drive one, I had to renew my license at the LTO.

portable folding bike but not for long uphill rides

Bracing Myself for the Horrors
Back in the day, any documentation you had to secure from ANY government agency was fraught with anxious trepidation - long unorganized lines, incompetence, mayhem, fixers, inefficiency, and coming back for a succession of days until it's done. Out of dire necessity, I braced myself for my driver's license renewal in Siquijor.

LTO Prerequisites
I've done my homework before going to the LTO, ensuring I cover my bases and lessen whatever aggravation awaits me. I've acquired the needed documents - medical exam certificate (P500) and the free online CDE (comprehensive driver's examination) passing certificate.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]Siquijor's LTO office is organized, efficient and transparent - no fixers, no corruption and no unnecessary delay. From what I was told by locals, it wasn't always the case. But with the new district head - Gerlad J. Dominguez, the office had a shakedown and policies were strictly adhered to.

LTO grounds in Siquijor

License Steps in Summary

1. CDE online exam - FREE
2. Medical certificate (P500) - best to take it at an authorized center

At the LTO

1. Fill application form - the guard will ask you first and direct you to get the form from the 1st front desk guy. In my case, the guard even filled up my form!!
2. Give the form to the Complaints Desk - that's right, Complaints Desk. She'll sort out all your documents and give it to the people inside the building. Your name will just be called.
3. Pay (P90) - I'm not sure what the P90 is for, but I paid it anyway - maybe it's for the online exam. Go back to your seat until your name is called again
4. Picture - your name will be called and you'll be asked to go to the Picture Office inside the building. There, your biometrics will be taken. You will also be given all your documents to be presented to another section where you take the online test.
5. Online test - there will be 60 questions, multiple choice between 3 answers, and one hour to finish the exam. Some of the questions are actually common sense questions. The difficult questions could be hacked - 2 answers could be obviously wrong, so the 3rd answer must be the right one. Your result will be known immediately when you finish the test. Some people keep coming back because they can't pass the test. But if you pass...
6. Actual driving test - you will be asked to do a driving test with your vehicle. If you don't have a vehicle, you can rent one at the nearby driving school, TL Mabuhay. M'am Renee and M'am Eileen are both friendly and helpful. Car rental for the exam is P500. With the tester on the backseat, you will be asked to drive to Siquijor Poblacion and back. That's it. It's easy if you already know how to drive a car. If you pass...
7. Pay (P910) - P585 License fee, P225 Penalty fee (for having an expired license), P100 Revision of records (I had to change info from my previous license)
8. Get your laminated license - that's it! You get it in one day with no hassle! I was even thinking, "This doesn't happen in the Philippines...but hey, it happens in Siquijor!!!"

Adding Motorbike Option
Normally, I'd be done, but my previous license was only for driving a car...not a motorcycle. But my specific need in Siquijor was to drive a motorcycle, so I had to add it to my license. Why didn't I just combine the 2 on the renewal? Because it couldn't be done. I had to reinstate my expired license first, and then, apply for a license recode. This meant I had to do everything all over again...with some add-ons:

At TL Mabuhay Driving School

1. PDC (P1,350) - I had to walk back to TL Mabuhay Driving School to secure a PDC (a driving certificate for motorcycle...mandatory)
2. Motorcycle rental (P150) - while at TL Mabuhay, I also rented a motorcycle for my ride test

Going back to LTO

1. Document processing - I had to give back all my documents + the PDC
2. Pay (P90) - for the motorcycle online test
3. Picture - same thing...biometrics, picture
4. Online test - it's not specific to motorcycles. It's essentially the same test I took earlier, with some new questions randomly picked by the algorithm
5. Pay (P425) - P100 change DL, P225 replacement fee, P100 revision of records
6. Drive test - I was asked to drive the motorcycle along the front road, make a U-turn and back
7. Get your laminated license - that's it! In one day, I was able to renew my expired license, receive a new laminated license, have it replaced with another new license with the addition of the motorcycle code. One day!!!!

Ending Thoughts
To have this process take place in just one no-hassle day, is NOT the norm in the Philippines. Perhaps it only happens in Siquijor. And it didn't happen by chance. This new system is entirely due to one man's vision, courage and integrity - Gerlad J. Dominguez. During his term, his office received the much coveted Seal of Excellence award. With Mr. Gerald around, I somehow feel optimism that there is hope in this country.

the Seal of Excellence award for Siquijor's LTO

I remember back in the day when I renewed my Drivers License in Pasay, I had to come back 3X (so 3 days), and every time, I had to elbow my way to a throng of angry and exasperated people who were also there for the same thing. I saw stacks of papers in front of the staff that wasn't moving because they kept getting new paper from someone from the inside (the fixers). It was a blatant in-your-face corruption that you felt helpless with. It was disparaging. All I wanted to do then was just leave the country...because it wasn't an isolated case...it was the norm in every department, in every government agency throughout the country. Perhaps the entire country should take note of what's happening in Siquijor's LTO...they have much to learn and much to emulate!!!

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

Next story:

The 'Bad Guy' of Siquijor

(Feb 15, 2023) It's not what you think! This is about the district head of Siquijor's LTO - a public servant with lofty goals for the greater good of his province. But since his intentions are neither seen nor understood, his righteous actions are unappreciated. With unwavering resolve, he forges through, knowing fully well he can only be seen as the Bad Guy...more »»

Manifesting a Motorbike from Thin Air?

(Feb 18, 2023) Once I saw it, I could no longer unsee it. Immediately after getting my driver's license, I wanted to buy a motorbike. I researched and I knew how much it would cost me. But I didn't really have the money. The following day, the money was there...and all I had to do was make a purchase. But I didn't...more »»

More on Siquijor Poblacion:

More on Siquijor Island:

Siquijor Island Map

Siquijor - Cebu (Liloan) - Cebu City BUS Trip

(as of Jan 2023)

There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Larena Port around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port (Sundays at 3 pm) for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) 10 pm.

Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because it goes around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena where it takes the ferry at 1 pm. This saves you the hassle and high transport cost of a tricycle. Besides, it's a long trip from the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.

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