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Reports reaching this Office tell us that one of the reasons why tourists/foreigners come to the country is because of the relative convenience to obtain a Philippine license.  This is borne out of the result of our investigations that most were able to secure local licenses without passing through the legal apprenticeship period and qualification process at the licensing centers.

To forestall future occurrence and enhance our driver licensing integrity, if is hereby directed that:

1. Issuance of Student Driver’s Permit to any foreigner shall only be done at the License Section.  Operations Division of the Central Office.  However, applications may be personally filed at the Office of the Regional Director most convenient to the applicant and shall have the following requirements and procedure:

	1.1	present original copy of passport with visa and submit a machine copy (in case applicant is between 16-18 years old, parental consent is required;
	1.2	present original plane ticket to/from the Philippines and submit a machine copy;
	1.3	submit Postal Money Order for P40.00;
	1.4	submit one copy of 1x1 picture
	1.5	submit one registered stamped envelope;
	1.6	Regional Office will indorse the application together with items 1.1 to 1.4 using the registered stamped envelope to the Central Office
	1.7	SDP will be sent back to the Regional Office to be released to the applicant
	1.8	the Regional Office will maintain a logbook where release of SDP will be reflected.

2. Only foreigners who have been in the country for the last thirty (30) days and who can show proof that they are allowed to stay for the next five (5) months may apply for the Permit.

Exempted from this Order who may therefore, apply at any LTO field office are the following:

1. Officers and staff (and members of their family) of the Diplomatic Corps.
   
   
2. Officers and staff (and members of their family) of international financing institutions such as the ADB, World Bank, IMF, etc.
   
   
3. Officers and staff (and members of their family) of the agencies of the United Nations with offices in the country.
   
   
4. Nationals of the ASEAN Countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand
   
   
5. Officers and men (and members of their family) connected with the US Bases

It will be required that to avail of the exemption the necessary documents must be presented to the field office such as the certificate of employment, contract of employment identification card or passport.

A permit issued to a non-exempted foreigner after 01 August 1991 by any LTO field offices shall not be honored.  Those found to have violated this Order shall face administrative sanction.

Adopted: 15 July 1991