13/01/2026
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The Land Transportation Office (LTO), under the leadership of LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Markus V. Lacanilao issued Notice of Show Cause Orders and imposed 30-day preventive suspensions on three accredited driving schools of LTO operating in Tarlac.
The orders cite violations of LTO MC No. VDM-2023-2460, the Revised Omnibus Guidelines on the Accreditation, Supervision, and Control of Driving Institutions, and Standardization of Driver and Conductorβs Education. Specifically, these driving schools are accused of irregular use of accreditation under Section 24(C)(11), involving the issuance of Practical Driving Course (PDC) Certificates of Completion without conducting actual driving lectures or seminars for applicants. It was reported that in the initial investigation, PDC certificates were released by each institution without the required training being provided.
One of the three driving schoolsβ proprietor and instructor were previously issued separate show cause orders for violations of the same memorandum circular. The former was cited for irregular use of accreditation for conducting courses shorter than required hours, failure to follow approved syllabi, and issuance of certificates with irregularities, along with non-compliance with other requirements while the latter was cited for participation in acts constituting irregular use of accreditation as detailed in Section 24(C) of the circular.
Such irregularities in driver education directly contribute to road crashes across the Philippines. Individuals who obtain certificates without proper training often lack essential knowledge of traffic rules, defensive driving, vehicle safety, and emergency protocols. This skill deficiency increases the risk of road mistakes, endangering drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists. Recent road safety reports consistently link inadequate training to a significant percentage of collisions, underscoring the critical role of accredited driving institutions in maintaining public safety.
Each driving school is directed to submit a verified written response within five (5) days upon receipt of their respective orders, explaining why disciplinary action should not be imposed. Failure to comply will result in ex parte proceedings, with cases resolved based on available records. Both schools must cease all operations, including access to the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS), for the duration of the 30-day preventive suspension or until investigations are finalized. Copies of the orders were furnished to the Central Accreditation Committee on Driving Institutions (CACDI) and Regional Accreditation Committee on Driving Institutions (RACDI) for LTO Region III.
In a statement, Asec Lacanilao said: βThe LTO is committed to upholding the highest standards for driver education and training in the Philippines. Irregularities in the issuance of course completion certificates undermine road safety and the integrity of our licensing process. These actions demonstrate our resolve to ensure that only properly trained individuals are allowed to operate motor vehicles on our roads, and we will not hesitate to take appropriate action against any institution found violating our guidelines.β
