NEWS
LTO starts issuing driver’s licenses valid for 10 years, but motorists must take seminar, exam
Starting Thursday, 28 October 2021, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will be issuing driver’s licenses that are valid for ten (10) years in line with the provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 10930 which amended the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
In addition to the granting of a driver’s license that is valid for 10 years, Section 3 of RA 10930 also mandates the LTO to conduct a examination on both applicants of new driver’s licenses and on those who are renewing expired ones.
“The law wants to make sure that only qualified motorists who possess both driving skills and knowledge of road safety and road courtesy, are given the privilege to drive motor vehicles,” said LTO chief Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante.
Motorists who will be renewing their expired driver’s licenses will have to pass the Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) which is composed of a refresher seminar and an examination designed to make sure that only deserving applicants who have sufficient driving skills and are knowledgeable of road safety and proper road courtesy will have their licenses renewed.
“The LTO shall promulgate prerequisites and guidelines before the grant of drivers’ licenses to ensure that these are issued only to deserving applicants with sufficient driving skills and knowledge on road safety and proper road courtesy. Toward this end, the conduct of theoretical and practical examinations, among others, must sufficiently measure the competency of drivers and must be designed to the type of license applied for its corresponding restrictions: Provided, that for professional drivers, the tests must be appropriated to the vehicle and type of service the applicant intends to operate,” Section 3 of Republic Act 10930 states.
The rollout of the driver’s licenses that are valid for 10 years will start at the LTO’s Central Office- Licensing Section and the Quezon City Licensing Center (QCLC). At the moment, not all LTO offices will be able to issue driver’s licenses that are valid for 10 years. A week following the pilot run at the LTO Central Office-Licensing Section, and at the Quezon City Licensing Center (QCLC), driver’s licenses that are valid for 10 years will be issued by other LTO offices in Metro Manila.
Motorists who will be renewing their licenses in areas where the system of issuing 10-year valid licenses are not yet in place, can renew their driver’s licenses using the old system, the LTO said.
Motorists renewing their licenses in LTO offices that are now ready to issue 10-year valid licenses, will be required to take the CDE seminar and its accompanying examination.
The CDE seminar will be conducted for a maximum of five (5) hours and can be taken for free in driver’s education centers (DECs), and for a fee in LTO accredited driving schools. Motorists can also take the seminar online via the LTO’s LTMS portal.
Motorists who will fail in the examination following the CDE seminar will be required to retake the test.
Under Republic Act No. 10930 which amended the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, the new licenses that are valid for 10 years will be given to all driver’s license holders who do not have any traffic violations on file. Those with traffic violations recorded during the validity of their expired licenses, will be issued renewed licenses that are only valid for five (5) years.
Meanwhile, the validity of expired driver’s licenses has been extended by two months from the date of expiration. The extension aims to ensure that motorists who are renewing their licenses are given ample time to comply with the CDE requirement.
The CDE, consisting of video and written materials produced by the LTO, is being offered free at all LTO offices and via the LTO website (lto.gov.ph), and through the LTO Facebook page and YouTube.
Motorists applying for the renewal of their expired driver’s licenses need only to register for free at the LTO Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) via portal.lto.gov.ph, or can be assisted through the process by LTO front-liners in all LTO offices.
The LTMS allows all LTO clients to make transactions via the internet on a 24/7 basis, including bookings for DL application. The portal has an extensive driver’s education library provided for free, including CDE materials. After studying the CDE materials, LTMS clients can take the required CDE exam online and upon passing it will be issued a CDE certificate to be used in the renewal of the expired driver’s license.
NEWS
Atayde bats for moratorium on student loan payments during emergencies, calamities
March 17, 2023 9:00 p.m.
STUDENTS won’t have to worry paying their loans during times of calamities and emergencies, as Quezon City first district Congressman Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde has introduced a moratorium on the payment of student loans administered by higher educational institutions (HEIs).
The House Bill 7279, which Atayde filed last Feb. 21, headed into its first reading six days later in the Committee on Higher and Technical Education, chaired by Baguio City Rep. Mark O. Go.
He said the bill — once it turns to a law — will halt the payment of all the fees, charges, and costs relating to student loans and technical-vocational training institutions (TVIs) or by the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST) during emergencies.
It will cover all students residing in areas declared to be under a state of calamity or emergency — those who are enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), private HEIs, and public and private TVIs.
“We have to find a way to help our students and their families, when natural or even these man-made calamities hit them hard. We just have to make everything easy for them including a moratorium on the payment of student loans,” Atayde said. “It is a burden on a student and their family especially in difficult times like aftermath of typhoon, fire and earthquakes, among other disasters.”
“In the order of spending, student loans will be their least priority since spending will go mostly to basic necessities for survival,” Atayde added.
The moratorium shall be effective for the duration of the state of calamity or emergency and for 30 days after its lifting. No penalties shall be collected on the deferred payments.
“To provide adequate relief and protection to our students in times of calamities and emergencies, this measure shall allow the deferral of student loan collections for a reasonable period during and after the onset of disasters.”
The Quezon City lawmaker cited also the availability of the moratorium, which shall not adversely affect the status of the students concerned with regard to their eligibility for re-enrollment on the succeeding semesters or terms, or their eligibility for graduation.
“The proposed legislation doesn’t prevent public and private HEIs from implementing more favorable forms of payment relief or assistance to students affected by disasters, prohibiting students from voluntarily waiving the moratorium on student loan payments, or availing subsidies and assistance from the government,” Atayde concluded.
NEWS
ShopeePay now available as a payment method for App Store, other Apple services in PH
March 16, 2023 1:59 p.m.
Beginning today, ShopeePay, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, is now available as a payment method for Apple services in the Philippines. Customers can use their ShopeePay account to pay for App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV app, and iTunes Store purchases, iCloud storage and more.
The addition of ShopeePay as an Apple ID payment method offers a new way to pay for Apple services without needing a credit card and still allows for easy, secure one-tap purchasing from Apple products including iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Customers can manage their Apple ID payment information in Settings on iPhone and iPad, or on their Mac or PC.
Agatha Soh, Director at ShopeePay commented, “ShopeePay is committed to meeting the needs of users who are increasingly expecting seamless payments across all platforms. We are excited to offer ShopeePay as a convenient payment option for our customers, and expand access to digital payments, benefitting more users.”
For more information on how to add ShopeePay as a payment method, please visit https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201266 or https://shopee.ph/m/ShopeePay-Apple-ID-PH.
NEWS
Be bolder, braver, more confident at SM Supermalls’ Women’s Month celebration!
March 8, 2023, 8:30 p.m.
Ladies, take center stage as SM celebrates Women Power throughout the month of March. Lots of activities both online and on-ground are in store to empower women and girls all over the country.
Join the Future of Women Global Summit
SM Supermalls will be joining UN Women in kicking off the IWD 2023 celebration through a women’s summit on March 8, at the SM Aura Premier Samsung Hall. Focusing on the future of women in ICT, the two-part event will gather young women, country leaders, policy makers, and advocates together to share perspectives and affirm their commitment to supporting digital equality for women and girls.
Photo courtesy of SM City Lucena
Photo courtesy of SM City San Jose del Monte
Support your local Womenpreneurs
Great finds for ladies are on sale at the SM Womenpreneur Market! This pop-up of small and medium businesses owned by women for women will give you everything you need from food and beauty to wellness and fashion!
Wednesdays are for women!
Shopping on Wednesdays has become even more tempting because the Women’s Wednesday Sale is back! Achieve the glow-up you deserve with special discounts, deals, and promos on fashion, beauty, and fitness exclusively for women every Wednesday of March. So don’t hold back on your shopping; you deserve all these and more!
A beautiful treat of wellness all for you
Forda glow-up and pampering sesh tayo this month because lots of self-care deals are available at the Women’s Wellness Sale. Avail of great deals from wellness salons on facials, hair and body treatments, nail care, and massage from March 1 to March 31.
And more deals online!
Special deals are up for women via the SM Malls Online app. Get the best brand offerings every Wednesday from shoes and beauty and wellness to home and hobbies. Use the code WOMEN and get an extra 10% off, capped at 250. What’s great is that there’s no minimum purchase required!
Also, a collection of brand vouchers will be sent to all women SM Malls Online shoppers valid all month. Wait for your Beauty Pass and give yourself the retail therapy you deserve with tons of discounts, GWP deals, samplers, in-store pick up bonuses, and mystery boxes!
Plus, the SM Malls Online app will be hosting self-care sessions online. Follow SM Supermalls on social media to get a dose of starter packages, Get-Ready-With-Me routines, and beauty products that your favorite beauty experts swear by.
Photo courtesy of SM City East Ortigas
Photo courtesy of SM City Manila
Celebrate Women Power on IG!
Capture the beauty and power of women at the beautiful spots and installations all over SM. Be free to express your own uniqueness and creativity in the specially-designed selfie spaces in partnership with Selfie Studio. Don’t forget to tag us on IG!
We don’t know about you but exciting days await every SM woman. So be bolder, braver, and more confident! With these activities, you can confidently step forward in fashion, beauty, wellness, and express yourselves to make a positive impact.
Stay updated on all things women this IWD 2023 by visiting www.smsupermalls.com and following @smsupermalls on social media.
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