Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) — A group of driving schools told CNN Philippines on Thursday it wants to appeal the Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) move to set a price cap on lesson fees after the directive’s implementation.
“Kung sakaling hindi na talaga namin makaya after April 15, mga kalagitnaan ng taon at maramdaman na yong epekto, I’m sure the door is open ng LTO for dialogue,” Marlyn Allanigue, president of the Philippine Association of LTO Accredited Driving Schools, said in an interview in Traffic Center.
“We can appeal, baka naman kahit konti mabigyan ng reconsideration ‘yong rates namin,” she said, noting the high costs of fuel.
[Translation: If we can really feel the impact after April 15, or midyear, I’m sure the door of LTO is open for dialogue. We can appeal, maybe they can reconsider our rates even just a little.]
The LTO announced the price cap on Wednesday. It also warned accredited driving schools face sanctions if they fail to follow the set guidelines.
But Allanigue said those rates were already close to existing driving school fees, stressing that the expensive costs are only those imposed by fixers.
She said fees depend on the market and image of schools. Some longtime schools, she added, also offer \”VIP or executive classes\” for clients who drive Raptors, SUVs, or Monteros.
“Kahit bumaba presyo namin, pipilitin namin, gagawin namin ang aming makakaya para ma-maintain ‘yong quality education sa soon-to-be drivers,” Allanigue said of her group, which is composed of small and new driving schools.
[Translation: Even if we have lowered fees, we will try our best to maintain providing quality education to soon-to-be drivers.]
Based on the LTO’s omnibus guidelines, driving institutions should implement the following maximum fees effective April 15:
For motorcycle driving:
Theoretical driving course (TDC) ₱1,000
Practical driving course (PDC) ₱2,500
For light vehicle driving:
TDC ₱1,000
