The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has released official statement announcing the new longer validity of driver’s license to last up to 10 years beginning October 2021.

The LTO has set guidelines how to earn the privilege of longer validity because not all can avail and enjoy the 10 years lifelong of the driver’s license.

LTO clarifies the 10 years validity of the driver’s license as an incentive to those drivers who have not committed any violations and act in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations, when they renew their license starting October 2021, the LTO will grant those drivers with 10 years validity of driver’s license.

LTO said, the amended Republic Act (RA No.10930) extended the validity from three years to five years and the said rules and regulation issued in 2019 also includes probation of extending the incentives up to 10 years to those drivers without demerit points.

During the online media briefing on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, Assitant Edgar Galvante said, “Hindi lahat ng driver’s license possessor makakapag-enjoy nitong 10-year validity ng license kung siya ay mayroong demerit point. Kaya isang incentive ito sa sumusunod sa batas trapiko, walang violation. Pag-renew niya ng lisensiya starting October 2021 mabibigyan na siya ng 10-year valid license.”

Here are the set guidelines of the LTO to avail the privilege of 10 years driver’s license:

• Grave violation of traffic rules (5 demerit points) – These include using a vehicle to commit crime, driving a colorum vehicle, and driving under the influence of illegal drugs and/or alcohol.
• Less grave violations (3 demerit points)
• Light violations (1 demerit point)

LTO also noted citing the penalties to be charged to those who will violate the traffic rules and regulations and the accumulation of demerit points may results to some sort of penalties such as fine, suspension, license revocation or requirements to undergo reorientation.

Incurred violations and demerit points will reflect on their driver’s license and will be detected upon license renewal.

Galvante also added that they’re expecting a good result from this measure; this will lessen road crashes and traffic accidents once drivers wish for a longer validity of their driver’s license.

“Hopefully with this measure mabawas-bawasan ang mga road crashes, traffic accidents,” Galvante said.