Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 19) — The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged several offices of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for issuing permits or certificates of accreditation to driving schools last year even though the documents they submitted were either invalid or incomplete.
In the latest audit report for the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the COA said 189 or 66.32% of 285 driving school applicants have been approved despite lacking requirements.
These were approved by the DOTr-Cordillera Administrative Region, LTO offices in National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Soccsksargen regions.
Aside from lacking documentary requirements, state auditors said the applicants also did not have proper facilities and equipment to provide driving lessons.
“The laxity in the review and evaluation of the documentary requirements and on the conduct of site inspections by the RAC (regional accreditation committee) defeats the objectives for which these minimum requirements were imposed,” the COA stated in the audit report, which was uploaded in its website on July 13.
The LTO offices were required to instruct driving school applicants to submit the proper documents for accreditation.
Auditors also advised the LTO to be strict in conducting site inspections of classrooms, maneuvering sites, and other facilities before issuing permits.
