ILOILO City – In celebration of National Women’s Month, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 6 launched a free Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) aimed at empowering women through accessible driver education and promoting road safety.
Around 100 women participated in the opening day of the two-day course, which runs on March 11-12 and March 13-14 at the LTO-6 regional office.
The program covers traffic laws, road safety, and responsible driving — key requirements for first-time driver’s license applicants.
LTO-6 regional director Atty. Gaudioso Geduspan II underscored the importance of the initiative, citing alarming road crash statistics. He noted that the Philippines records an average of 12,000 road crash fatalities annually, with Western Visayas accounting for around 500 deaths.
“This program is vital in creating safer roads by making driver education accessible to all, especially to women,” Geduspan said.
The free course allows participants to save up to P1,000 — the usual fee in private driving schools — and provides complimentary TDC certificates, reducing the financial burden of obtaining a student permit.
LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II said the initiative aligns with the Department of Transportation’s directive to recognize women’s contributions to society, particularly in road safety.
Meanwhile, LTO-6 assistant regional director Jeck Conlu encouraged more women to avail of the program.
“Help us spread the word that obtaining a driver’s license is now easier and more accessible. Our regional director has streamlined the process to ensure convenience for applicants,” Conlu said.
LTO-6’s Traffic Safety Unit, led by Mel Joy Gaurano, is facilitating the training sessions. With strong participation on the first day, LTO-6 continues to promote community-focused driver education while advocating for road safety and gender inclusivity./PN
