Aquiring My Driving License - A Day at Land Transportation Office

    September 3, 2009 - One of the craziest day I ever had. I went to LTO to get a driver's license.

   I went to a branch near the office so I can still go to work after, but alas, I need to go to a licensing center, not there(huhuhu). So I traveled again to somewhere south branch(I will not disclose the branch name hehehe).

   I arrived exactly 10am, too late for an applicant of license. So I am very disappointed knowing that they only cater 100 "legal" applicants a day.

   So why did I put the word "legal" there? Here is the story...

   I talked to the security guard there(feeling ko investigative journalist ako hehehe). Then he told me someone could help me get a license. So he introduced me to a woman(I forgot the name hehe). She escorted me to the eye exam first. The one assigned there told me to stand and cover my right eye first then read the chart. After that, the left eye naman ang icocover. After 30 seconds, kumita na sila ng 100 pesos for that exam.

   Next is the drug test. The lab is located at the 2nd floor - it looks like a hideout of goons in a movie. I filled up the form then paid 300 pesos just to give them a urine sample.The lab was very small, and no water for washing hands - eeewww.

   Then the woman(fixer) told me I need to pay 1,700 to her - wow! Ang mahal! Tumawad ako of course. We made a deal at 1500. So I paid, promising me to get the license at 5pm. Then I need to return at 1pm for picture taking and 2:30 for the exam.

   While waiting, I observed around the area. I noticed 2 large signs of "no smoking" hanging. Below the signs - there are guys smoking hahahaha! Ang lupet! Nice discipline diba? Then there is this one guy approached me. He asked if I also asked help to a fixer. Of course I said yes. I believe that 4 out of 5 people get their license with the help of fixers.

   Then, it is exam time. In exam room, slippers is not allowed. For those who don't have shoes - you can rent there a total wreck shoes for formality sake for only 50 pesos with free athlete's foot. Inside the room there are reviewers that will be given to you. Oooops, I forgot to mention - the payment I made for the fixer includes free answers for the exam, yehey! Out of 40 questions in the questionnaire, 26 items already was answered - by the LTO personnel on the spot before they give you your questionnaire and answer sheet. Ang saya saya noh? Effortless passing in the license examination! This is the reason why many Filipinos can have license easily, even though they can't read or write. Also, the questions are situational, failing this exam or passing this with the help of cheat makes one driver a rude one since he will not know what is the proper attitude towards a driving situation. Driving is not a right, it is only a privilege.

   After the non-sense examination, I just need to sign at the actual driving counter - imagine, I already passed the actual driving exam without effort hehehe! No wonder why there are many accidents in our country.

   Then, another waiting session, to release the license card. So I wait until my name is called. Yehey! I got my license na after those hours I wasted and large amount na binayad ko.

   Di ko talaga inaasahan na ganon ang kalakaran sa LTO. Ang lalaki pa ng babala sa mga fixers. Hay...ung mga empleyado naman pala ang fixers.

    Here is the vision of LTO(Courtesy of their website): "The LTO envisions a well-developed transportation system that will play a vital role in improving the quality of life of the Filipino people, particularly in providing a more viable means of land transport and a secured travel for transport users and commuters." I want to change this one to: "The LTO envisions to make the employees rich by acquiring bribes for easier processing of license" hahahaha!

    So to the others that will get their license - goodluck!