Motorists look through their paper licenses as they wait for their drivers license at the releasing office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Quezon city on Tuesday. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA — Land Transportation Office Chief Vigor Mendoza on Tuesday said he plans to revive an old policy that mandated periodic medical checkups for driver’s license holders as part of the agency’s efforts to improve road safety.

Speaking at the first National Convention of LTO-accredited Medical Clinics in Manila, Mendoza said there is an increasing number of people who are being granted driver’s licenses with 10-year validity. But he stressed the need to ensure that they remain medically fit to drive throughout that long period of time.

Under the scrapped memorandum, drivers issued with a 5-year driver’s license should undergo a medical exam after three years, while those who have a 10-year driver’s license need to have a checkup on the fourth and seventh year.

This comes after the LTO recorded 574 road crash incidents during the Holy Week exodus and some 97 public utility vehicle drivers also tested positive for drug use.

“Majority of incidents for preliminary investigation would show human error… We have to tighten things up," Mendoza said. 

"We have to ensure that only those who are medically fit to drive can drive… May visual check, auditory check, and general condition check,” he said. 

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Some doctors present during the convention suggested requiring checkups every two years, especially for senior citizens and those with co-morbidities.

“There are so many things that will happen during the interval period. Anybody can cut their hands, be blinded, you can cut your feet, and many other physical fractures that could contribute to being maimed or disabled… That is why you have so many mishaps on the road because people are using the road undisciplined,” said Dr. Ronald Gran from Candelaria, Quezon.

NON-APPEARANCE

The LTO is also cracking down on medical clinics that allow non-appearance checkups for a price.

Mendoza said the agency has issued show cause orders to more than 70 medical clinics nationwide this year.

“Ilan na ang nabuwag naming sindikato sa pagkuha ng lisensya. Sa Facebook, lumalabas, P8,000 non-pro, pag pro P30,000, ganyan… Pero tuloy-tuloy pa rin. Ganyan ang problema rito, nakakakuha ng medical certificate kahit hindi dumadaan sa tamang proseso,” he said.

According to Mendoza, not only is this an issue of road safety, it also hurts the business of legitimate medical clinics. That’s why he urged other clinic owners to report any suspicious activity they see.

“We have to weed out the misfits in our ranks. Nasisira ang industriya dahil sa kagagawan ng ilan-ilan lang. Ilang medical clinic na ang nagsabi sa’kin na magsasarado sila voluntarily… because it no longer makes sense to continue the business altogether,” he said.

Mendoza vowed to punish and terminate LTO personnel or official who are found to be in cahoots with these syndicates.

“Marami ng ways to guard that e but siguro nagpapabaya rin yung ibang tao sa LTO na kahit alam nilang walang appearance pinapabayaan so I have to remind them, other regions that we have to be stricter in implementation,” he added.

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