The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is set to launch the second pilot implementation of its online driver’s license renewal system for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) this December. The move aims to address challenges identified during the initial trial and improve accessibility for more OFWs.
“We’ve learned a lot from the first run—mistakes, important processes—and now, we aim to address all these concerns,” said LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II in an Inquirer.net report. “This is why we are prepared to conduct a second pilot run to thoroughly test our systems.”
The first pilot, conducted in September, targeted around 400 OFWs in Taiwan, specifically in Taichung and Kaohsiung. Mendoza explained that the service allows OFWs to renew their licenses near their workplaces without waiting to return to the Philippines.
One issue raised during the initial run was a shortage of LTO-accredited telemedical doctors to issue required medical certificates. “There was a slight queue among our applicants because the number of doctors in the accredited telemedical facility online was limited,” Mendoza noted. He assured that more doctors and clinics will be added for the upcoming pilot.
The online service, a collaboration between the LTO and the Department of Migrant Workers, aims to simplify license renewal by making the process fully digital. OFWs will need a valid or recently expired driver’s license, an active LTO portal account with a captured biometric profile, online Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) certification, a medical certificate from an accredited facility, and a smartphone with internet access.
Mendoza expressed optimism that the second trial will fine-tune the system for a wider rollout to other countries. “We hope to ensure that when this service expands, it will already be well-organized and convenient for all OFWs,” he added.
Once the renewal process is completed online, license cards will be printed and shipped to the OFWs, Mendoza confirmed.
