Ilocos norte: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced Tuesday that it will offer a free theoretical driving course for female applicants in March, coinciding with the observance of Women's Month.
According to Philippines News Agency, Ariel Paolo Tejada, a Drivers Education Center instructor of LTO 1 (Ilocos Region), stated that the program aims to empower women on the road, noting an increasing number of female drivers. "This is part of our continuing effort to empower women on the road as we observed an increasing number of lady drivers," Tejada mentioned in an interview.
The program has the capacity to accommodate up to 200 participants per batch. Advance requests have been scheduled for the last week of March in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, and for two additional batches in Agoo, La Union, and Pangasinan.
Tejada highlighted that LTO-1 would strive to accommodate all requests, especially from women's groups this March, as a recognition of their strength and contributions across all sectors.
The Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) is a mandatory 15-hour seminar for student driver's permit applicants, which covers traffic rules, road safety, and driver responsibility. While the course is free at selected LTO Drivers Education Centers, it typically costs PHP1,000 at accredited driving schools.
To successfully complete the course, participants must pass a 120-item written exam with at least 80 percent.
