UPDATE: With LTO saying that around 200 doctors being able to sign up for the LTO IT system, the agency says that medical certificates can now be submitted electronically again. (1/13).

The LTO’s directive of allowing only electronically-generated medical certificates from accredited doctors and clinics has hit a snag. Plagued with delays in the application and renewal of driver’s licenses and student’s permits during the first 2 days of its implementation, the LTO says they’ve begun accepting manually-generated medical certificates until further notice.

Aside from the inconvenience and delays that faced license applicants and motorists in the new year, a report by GMA News says that several clinics have also raised their medical examination fees. In some extreme cases, the fees have doubled because of the LTO’s move to computerize the securement of medical certificates.

Naturally, the LTO passed the blame on the medical clinics for both the slow processing of medical certificates and the rising cost of the medical exam.

The GMA News report quotes, LTO Region 1 Director Teofilo Guadiz III who helped draft the new guidelines:

“Humihingi ho kami ng pang-unawa sa una at pangalawang araw ng aming implementasyon nitong computerization. Hindi ho kaagad lahat na-accredit yung mga medical clinic.”

“Mas marami ‘yung mga hindi kaagad nag-apply, thinking na pag-apply ka ma-approve kaagad ng isang araw.”

As for the added cost:

“Wala po kaming nilalagay na amount kung magkano ang dapat singilin ng medical clinics. We leave it to their discretion kung magkano ang dapat nilang isingil.”

And for motorists having to endure long queues during license renewal?

“Mas marami ‘yung mga hindi kaagad nag-aapply thinking na maa-approve kaagad ng isang araw,” he said. “Kung nakapag-apply ho sana nu’ng December pa and then na ayos nila ID requirements nila dapat by January 7.”

Great. That’s your government at work.

Source: GMA News