Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Rlegular Session
HouseBillNOJus74
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RALPH l^rENDEL P. TULFO,
|OCELYN P. TULFO, AND ERWIN T. TULFO
AN ACT PROVIDING SUBSIDIES FOR INDIGENT PUBLIC UTILITY
DRIVERS IN THE PAYMENT 0F FEES AND CHARGES FOR CERTAIN
CERTIFICATES AND CLEARANCES REQUIRED BY THE LAND
TRANSPORTATION OFFICE (LTO) IN APPLYING FOR A PROFESSIONAL
DRIVER'S LICENSE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Public utility vehicles are a diverse range of transportation modes designed to
cater to the general public. Public utility drivers contribute significantly to the local
economy, making transportation a dynamic and essential sector.1 However, among
these drivers are indigents who find it difficult to shoulder the fees and charges
required of them as licensed drivers.
Public  utility  drivers  must  meet  certain  qualifications,  including  having  a
professional driver's license, attending relevant seminars or training, and passing
medical examinations.2 The requirements for a Professional Driver's License include:
(1) a Land Transportation (LTO)-accredited Medical Certificate; (2) a Practical Driving
Course  (PDC)  Certificate;  (3)  a Philippine  Statistics  Authority  (rsA)-issued  Birth
Certificate; (4) a valid National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) or Police Clearance; and
(5) a negative drug-test result from a Department of Health (DOH)-accredited testing
center and/or government hospital.3 Additionally, an application fee of Six Hundred
Eighty-Five Pesos (Php685.00) must be paid to the LTO to facilitate the processing of
an application for a new driver's license. However, total costs may reach as high as
Php8,000 to Php10,000 with the cost of a driving school course.4
1 "Public Utility Vehicles (PUV): Meaning, Purpose, and Examples'', LTO PortoJ PH, Accessed 22 Apr.
2024,https://ltoportal.ph/public-utility-vehicle-puv/
Z Ibid.
3  ``How to  Get LTO  Driver's  License  in  the  Philippines'',  LTO  Por£¢J PH,  Accessed  22 Apr.  2024,
https://ltoportal.ph/lto-drivers-license/
4 Dela Cruz, Raymond, "LTO: Recommended cap on driving school fees out soon'', Pfel.JI.ppl."c Nczt7s
Ageriey,16 Mar. 2023, https:/ / www.pna.gov.ph/ articles/ 1197572


This proposed legislative measure aims to ease the financial burden of indigent
public  utility  drivers by  providing a twenty  percent (20%)  discount for qualified
applicants in the payment of clearances and certificates, as may be required by the LTO,
in applying for a Professional Driver's License.
In view of the foregoing, the urgent passing of this bill is ea
I.`-_=_i-?f-i
RALPH
P. TULFO
Rjepreseritative
21ld District of Quezon City
ACT-CIS Partylist
2
ACT-GIS Party


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second RIgular Session
HouseBillNo.    10374
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO,
|OCELYN P. TULFO, AND ERWIN T. TULFO
AN ACT PROVIDING SUBSIDIES FOR INDIGENT PUBLIC UTILITY
DRIVERS IN THE PAYMENT 0F FEES AND CHARGES FOR CERTAIN
CERTIFICATES AND CLEARANCES REQUIRED BY THE LAND
TRANSPORTATION OFFICE (LTO) IN APPLYING FOR A PROFESSIONAL
DRIVER'S LICENSE
7       Be  it enacted by  the  Senate  and House  Of Riepresentatives  of the  Phthppines  in  Congress
8       assembled:
9
10           SECTION 1. SJlorf Ti.fJc. -This Act shall be known as the "Indigent public uthity
11      Driver's License Application subsidy Act."
12
13           SEC. 2. Decharflf®.o# a/Poll.q/.   -It is the policy of the state to promote a just and
14      dynamic order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free
15      people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote
16      full employment, a rising standard of living, and improved quality of life for all.
17
18          The state shall contribute towards this end by expanding accessibility to government
19      services  and providing subsidies  and  incentives  to indigent individuals who  seek
20      livelihood as drivers of public utility vehicles.
21
22
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1           SEC. 3.   Dc/I.#!.fro# a/ Terms.  -For this Act, the following terms shall have the
2      definitions as stated:
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a)  Appzi.co7if refers to an individual seeking to apply for a license to operate a public
utility vehicle as a means of livelihood. Qualified applicants under this Act are
individuals whose per capita income fall below the official poverty threshold as
defined by the government as identified and certified by the Philippines Statistics
Authority (PSA) based on the criteria set under Republic Act No. 11315, otherwise
known as the ``Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Act''; and
b)   P#bz!.c  ufr.Jz.fy  Vcfe!.cle  (PLrv)  refers  to  a  motor  vehicle  considered  as  a  public
transport  conveyance  or  common  carrier  duly  registered  with  the  I.and
Transportation Office (LTO) and granted a franchise by the I.and Transportation
Franchising Regulatory Board qTFRB).
SEC. 4. S«Z)sz'dt.es /or Q"¢Zi/I.ed AppZz.co7fts.  - Under this Act, qualified applicants
16      shall be granted a twenty percent (20%) discount in the payment of clearances and
17      certificates, as may be required by the LTO in applying for a Professional Driver's
18      License, including but not limited to:
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(a) Birth certificate from the PSA;
a) Medical certificate from an LTO-accredited clinic or physician;
(c) Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI);
(d) Clearance from the Philippine National Police a?NP);
(e) Eurollment fees for Theoretical and Practical Driving Courses given by LTO-
accredited and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-
certified driving schools; and
(f)  Examination Fees.
Priority registration shall be given to applicants in cases where the theoretical and
30      practical driving courses in LTO-accredited and TESDA{ertified driving schools can
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1      be  enrolled  free  Of  charge.  Furthermore,  applicants  shall  be  given  a  fixed  daily
2      allowance for expenses incurred in the commute to and from their chosen driving
3      schools.
4
5           SEC. 5. Rcq#!+cowc7cf/or s#bs..dy.   -Before the subsidy authorized under this Act
6      may be availed of, the applicant must be included in the validated list of drivers of puvs
7      of the local government unit concerned and must present a certification from the Local
8      Chief Executive (LCE) of the barangay where the driver resides or the LTFRB before the
9      LTO. The certification to be issued by the concerned LCE shall be called ``PUv cxperator
10      / Driver certificate''. Such puv operator / Driver certificate may be issued by the LCE
11      concerned upon presentation of any proof, which may include a LTFRB Franchise, an
12      ID issued by a transport organization, and/or proof of Tricycle operators and Drivers'
13      Association qoDA) membership.
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15           SEC. 6. Pe#¢Zfl.cs. -Any public officer or employee who refuses or fails to provide
16      the benefits granted to qualified applicants outlined in section 4 of this Act shall, upon
17      conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than Five Thousand pesos (Php5,000.00) but
18      not more than Twenty Thousand pesos (Php20,000.00).
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20          Prosecution for an offense outlined in this Act shall be without prejudice to any
21      liability for violation of any other existing laws, including civil service laws, niles and
22      regulations.
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24            SEC.  7.  J77zpZc7„enfz.«g Rzf7es  ¢#d Reg7zhafr.ous.  -Within six  (6)  months  from the
25      effectivity of this Act, the Department of Transportation, in consultation with PSA,
26      Department  of Interior  and  Local  Government,  NBI,  PNP,  Department  of Justice,
27      Department of Health, TESDA, and the National Anti-Poverty commission, shall issue
28      the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
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1           SEC.  8.  Sap¢#¢bt.Jt.fry  Cha#se.  -  If  any  section  or  provision  of  this  Act  is  held
2      uncoustitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected
3      and thereby remain in full force and effect.
4
5           SEC.  9. Rapcflzt.#g Cha#sc.    -All laws,  decrees,  executive orders,  and rules and
6      regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby
7      repealed or modified accordingly.
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9           SEC.10. £#ecft.t7..fry chausc.  -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)  days after its
10      publication on the official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
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12           Approved,