If there is one thing that virtually nobody likes, it is having to deal with government bureaucracy. That is true no matter what country you live in. In a country like the Philippines, though, where things are not so efficient, that is particularly true. But, yesterday, I had no choice, it was time to renew my driver’s license!
First step was to get the application form and fill it out. No problem there!
Second step, go for a drug test. There are lots of drug testing centers in town, particularly near to the LTO Office (Land Transportation Office – the place where you get your driver’s license). It had been several years since I needed a drug test, and I was surprised at how high tech the drug test place was now. I walked in to a kind of shabby building here in Davao, and sat down. They used a computer to fill in all of my information. They snapped a photo of me with a web cam, and proceeded to take my finger prints on all 10 fingers through a device hooked to the computer. Next step was to give me a cup to go pee in. I did that. Returned to the seat where they could finish up. There was only one person working in the office, and she took my urine sample, set it on the counter and then, she proceeded to give me the medical exam. That was the end of the medical exam and urine test. With a color laser printer, she printed out my test results. The form included a color picture of me and all of my fingerprints too. The results page was sure impressive! Total cost: P170 for the drug test, P50 for the medical exam – total P220, and I was out the door.
Next stop, LTO. I went to the LTO Satellite Office in SM City Davao, second floor. Oops… it didn’t look good, there were about 100 people ahead of me in line. Well, let’s give it a try and see how it goes.
There was a big sign on the wall, it showed the step by step procedure. Go to Window #1 and turn in your papers. Next, go to Window #2 for a photo and signature for your license. After that, wait to be called to Window #3 to make payment. Finally, pick up your license and the ever important receipt at Window #4. OK, 1 – 2 -3 – 4. What could be easier!
Feeling confident about this, I lined up at Window 1. Finally got to the front of the line and handed my papers to the lady.
“Sir, did you already go to Window #4?”
Hmm… well, I answered, “No, I am just starting, so I went here to Window #1.”
“Oh, sir, you have to go to Window #4 first to get a priority number!”
I replied, “you mean I go to Window #4 first, before Window #1?”
“Yes sir!”
“And, then after Window #4, I go to #1, #2 and then after #3 I am done?”
“Oh, no sir, after #3, you go to #4!”
“You mean I go to #4 twice?”
“Yes sir, of course!”
Oh, OK, so that is what I did. At Window #4, I was given my priority number, it was #117. I sat down and waited, the next number called was #101, and it was a long time before that was called. Not looking good. After #102 was called, the lady put a sign up in her window that said “Slowdown!” Oh my, so they were now going to slow down, and do it on purpose! I never understand, the people just sat there during the work slowdown, doing nothing – they didn’t slow down, they stopped! Then, after 10 minutes or so the sign was removed, and they started working again! About 10 more minutes passed, and the slowdown sign went back up and the process went to a standstill again! This seemed to happen every 10 minutes or so.
Well, after an hour or a little more, after bearing through all the slowdowns, I finally made my second trip to Window #4, got my license and I was done!
The driver’s license is good for 3 years, and the cost is P420, roughly (it is like P418.72 or some weird number like that). So, between the license itself, the drug test and the medical exam, you pay P640 and about 2 hours of your time, and you are good for 3 more years of driving!
I’m not looking forward to 2012. I wonder how many windows they will have then, and which one you will start at?
I had to renew my passport in Manila a real drama , looks like the government in the Philippines loves to see their citizens to wait and wait and suffer.
But what else you can expect from the government?
Bob,
I've heard people complain about various DOT's in the US where you have to wait in long lines for your drivers license also but I've never had that experience. Since I've lived in FL, I just send in payment by mail and they mail my new drivers license back.
Hi Bob!
I like the sign in your picture that says " the 30 minutes process for plain license renewal starts at Window 1…" LOL
Except of course when it starts at window 4, and if it takes longer…!
(Maybe the "Slowdown" sign meant the computers were working slow so it wasn't their fault it was taking a long time. Just a thought)
Mark C.
Sounds pretty normal to me. I mean the people that work there are just as you have mentioned here before.."On Philipino time" and maybe the directions are "Philipino Directions "..Meaning I quess..that to them 4 means 1 and 1 means 4 and anything inbetween does not matter!…and I quess as long as a person knows these 5 words….'Yes Sir" "No Sir"…"Yes Madam" "No Madam" and "thank you" rest will take care of its self…….
i like your monologue here bob. it's funny. only in da pilipins.
When I first got my driver's liscense in Maryland back in 1990 it was with the old DMV and it was literally an all day ordeal. IIRC I arrived at 9am and walked out with my liscense at 3.30 in the afternoon. These days theycall themselves the MVA, it still talkes a couple hours to get a renewal but it's not nearly as bad as it used to be. Florida on the other hand totally astounded me. When I converted my liscense to a FL one it took me 15 mins and that was it! Now that's efficiency.
Does your Philippine driver's license expire on your Birthday?
Happy Birthday, Bob!
Malipayong adlaw nga natawhan!
Mark C.
Bob,
First "Happy Birthday"
I have not had to renew my drivers license here but I have heard paying a ticket takes the whole day.
About speed, in Florida you can renew drivers license or registration online. You just go to the site, enter the PIN they have on your renewal, fill in a few items, put in CC# and withing a week you get it in the mail.
Bob,
Mail, there is a postal system.
Oh yes, first 2 weeks in Manila, then sent to Davao. A week until they stamp it arrived and then wait for enough items to get a guy on a motorcycle to drive around trying to find your address. :-((
The Philippines what a great country ….
Only in the Philippines do you have fun like that
' Slowdown " how fast do they go 🙂 🙂
Phil N Jess
hi bob, happy birthday to u and many, many more to come!
Hi Bob – Evidently, you we're there for the 30 minute process, but for the 120 minute process – and that starts at Window #4. 😆
I should have said, "you weren't there for the 30 minute . . ." My bad, sir.
Had to get my license renewed while I'm here in Missouri. The local office (West Plains) has been rather fast since we had a new assessor put in a decade or more back. I don't think I was there more than 30 minutes and half of that was waiting my turn. I have spent over an hour when living near Branson.
Hi MBob,
Reading this column, can’t help but to laugh all the through… true indeed. 🙂
Happy birthday friend.
Happy happy birthday MB ,
May you have more birthdays to come.
Enjoy your day.
Hi Bob,
Happy Birthday! Here in Georgia you can renew every other time online, or through the mail and you have the option for a 5 year or a 10 year license. The visit to their office usually take about 30 minutes to an hour. It's strange but they charge more at the office also.
Happy Birthday Bob
Ah yes! Filipino time, you have to love it. Now if we could just figure out a way to capitalize on all the wasted time spent standing in line in the RP we could pull the country to a new economic level.
🙂
Hi MindanaoBob!
Happy Birthday!
I can't help but laugh at your anecdote on the window numbers/license renewal. LOL! Yes, only in da Pilipins! 😆
Last time I renewed my license in the Philippines ( a very long time ago), I only went home with the receipt and had to wait another 2 months to get the actual license.
Happy Birthday Bob. Your experience reminds me of the old " Lets Make A Deal " tv show with Monty Hall……..Will it be window number one, two or three but before you see what is behind window number 3 would you like window number 1 instead LOL. I admire your patience.
I spent about 2 hours renewing my license at the dps (dept of public safety) in Dallas recently, about the same as you describe – but I was able to renew previously online. I had fun getting my license in Gensan back in '97 – I don't really want to post my experience, but it's a great story.
Thankfully my license is good until 2012. I gave them dog urine as a test of their system when I did my drug test. Seemed to work out just fine. Not surprising though. Frankly, I am sure if you trained a dog properly they would probably be better drivers than most I see on the road here in the PI.
Bob I had to laugh when I see your animated banner above about "Send load to your loved on in the Philippines" and I thought this was a g-rated site. Someone who doesn't know about load might think it was something else. Ok Ok enough of that LOL
Happy birthday Sir Robert.
I renewed my drivers license in Victoria BC just before I came here. I think it was about a 15 min wait then maybe 5 minutes at the counter. Happy Birthday Bob!!
Went a few week ago to get my first drivers license in Manila…..was dreading it…..but it turned out to be a very smooth process…….I was shocked.
The one funny thing that did happen was when I went to get my drug test, the nurse said to me "Are you American"….."No" I said "I am English"……so she replied "Ah Bonjour" !!!!
Hi Bob – I understand now. (30 Minutes) X (4 Windows) = 120 Minute Process.
Was gonna wait a couple hours for Friday, but what the heck – it's Friday there:
Naimbag nga Panagkanaganan! [Happy Birthday!] 😉
Hi Bob, First fo all, Happy Birthday and have memorable one!
When I converted my Driving License abroad to Philippine Driving License the lady that I first approached at the LTO told me that I have to go for a driving siminar. So I asked the lady, Do the Philippines have different road signs and regulations than overseas? Eventually, her supervisor heard my question and I don't know what they were talking as I only saw them at the glass window. The lady told me then to go inside and guided me to her supervisor's office. The supervisor told me to just photocopy my driving license abroad and my arrival date in the Philippines which was stamped in my passport. Luckily I had my passport with me that time. So I made a photocopy of them and submitted it together with the filled up application form and the medical exam results. He told me to come back after two hours. When I comeback earlier than what was said to me my driving license was already finished and it costs me 819 pesos. I give a thousand and with just a 'wink' … I did mean that he has to keep the change. It was not bad…I guess.
Happy birthday to you.
Here in my country, the drivers license will be valid until you reach the age of 70.
Then you wil have to get a check-up at your own doctor and then, if ok, the license will last for 4 more years, This goes on again at the age of 76 and 78 and 80. After that you need a renewal every year.
You only have to show up at the doctor, the rest is done by mail. All it cost is for the doctor and the license, a total of app. 30$
Very easy.
Preben
Here in Belgium we also never have to renew our driver license. On the license is written "permanent". Not even an age limit.
Happy birthday Bob.
Look in the bright side. You were safer sitting in the renewal office than driving in Philippine traffic.
Slowdown? That's the first time I've heard this. What are they slowing down for? Ahhh…maybe they're slowing down to give the next window enough time to catch up….
Hi Allan Kelly – Ha ha… actually, I don't find Philippine traffic dangerous at all!
Hi Atong Estrada – Ha ha…. I need to make a sign that I can put on the blog that says "slowdown" in case there are too many comments that I didn't respond to yet! 😆
Kamusta ka Bob,
This sounds like a skit from the old Carol Burnett Show, wheres Tim Conway and Harvery Korman when you need them?? hehe..
Well, at least another three years to go…and we get another story from you about this…lol. Another experience I look forward to going through in the Philippines.
Salamat,
Danny
happy birthday bob,
yeah, here in Naples Florida, you can renew your drivers license online. Even tags for our cars can be renewed thru the internet and pay it too. They will send it to you thru the mail. Good forr ten years. Of course they will use your old picture which is younger than how you look now.
Hi Bob – Happy 47th Birthday Celebration and may you have many many more Birthday's to come! ! ! Unsay gihanda?
Hi Bob – It must be nice to be young and handsome – Happy b-day.
This is off the topic here but I was wondering if you might think about putting up a Live in the Philippines discussion forum/Board in addition of course to LIP. LIP is magazine is great but it only covers one topic at a time and a discussion forum can allow for endless discussion in a civil way about pre-defined topic common for expats in the country. You can have one for Davao and every other city for that matter. Here is an example of one that I found for Dumaguete. It works good for that town http://www.dumagueteinfo.com/board/ and here is one that is more general for the whole country. I for one got some important banking questions answered on this particular one. Perhaps you can generate additional readership and therefore have your usual promotional things on those bords as well. You seem to have the staff so this only places you in a a stronger position about providing information about the Phillipines. And for control purposes you can have moderators.
Hi Bob,
Happy birthday for yesterday. And hope you have very many more happy ones.
I got my licence here I thought very easily. No fixer, no tips. And my SA lic had expired. Did a written test and everything. Ok so I was in the line for most of the day. But had my card by the end of it. This procedure in SA would have taken at least as long (if lucky) and you would then have to go back to collect the card and wait for a couple of hours.
I went armed with a book, snacks and water, and never opened the book. Had a very nice day chatting to people. Someone waiting had to go to work so gave me his priority number which was about 20 before me, and I then gave mine to someone, that resulted in more chatting.
Most people couldnt understand that I was waiting, and why had I not just got someone to "help" me. It was quite an experience really. Now I have to change my name….. That is going to be fun
Hi Danny – 😆 Yes, it was a comedy, that is for sure!
Hi CRIS – Thank you. I wish Philippine license was 10 years!
Hi Luz B. – Thank you very much. We just had a small dinner last night with a couple of friends. It was a nice birthday, and Feyma prepared a delicious dinner.
Hi Steven – Hmm.. We already do have a LiP Forum! I started it a month or so ago, and announced it here at that time. Perhaps you missed out on that? Or, is there something I don't understand about your request?
Hi Carolynn – thank you! I'm glad to hear that your experience at the LTO went smoothly.
Hi MBob,
Sorry out of topic.
Just to let you know I received my book today. I’d like to get the ‘‘49 ways’’ next time. I really want to get into business there someday… not web business, I’m not like you ‘’genius’’. This book is a start and will help me/us a lot… Thank you.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Thanks Bob – I must have missed that day.
Another suggestion- How about putting up a Suggestion blog along with the other contributors blog so we can do what we are doing right here with posts like this but instead in a targeted location. Readers can view other reader suggestions regarding LIP and chime in. It would be mmore visible here on LIP than on the LIP fiorum not that a forum isn't a good place either to make suggestion regarding LIP. After that you could consider a vote on the interesting more hyped issues. Have I confused you yet. I think I confused myself LOL.
Hi Bob,
I bet you are glad that at home you didn't have to go to window #4 first to get your Happy Birthday greetings! Ha Ha Ha!
Happy Birthday, and safe driving!
A suggestion blog. Exactly what it means. Like you have contributors (rusty, john, migs, etc..) with their only LIP blog. So you add one more that is purely for suggestions. Title it "Place your suggestions to make LIP better here". If you get one suggestion that makes your site better than that is worth it in itself. I had it on my very successful site and had many useful suggestions in fact oftentimes a discussion took place that actually did much of the fine tuning for me on the suggestion itself. Hey it's just a thought.
Happy birthday Bob,
I got a real chuckle out of that story. I think you have more patience than me. I probably would be explaining why I shouldn't be deported.
I don't understand if I am not mistaken I am on an open blog now correct? I mean all I had to do was put in a name and an email address and they actually don't even have to be real and I can post. Unless you have their email blacklisted and then they can't post anywhere. The way you have it is already asking for trouble. Why not protect yourself better if that is an existing concern. As far as spam and all the garbage you get simply get people to really register and have them respond to an email to confirm it or use graphical verification code Yes it is a pain and perhaps you may lose some pople in the process but you probably wouldn't want them anyway.
Back to the suggestion blog. just create a subject like you have today call it "YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR BETTERING THE LIP SITE" and leave it open on the home page so it is always seen and not relugated to the archives.
Am I getting warmer LOL
semantics my friend. yes I should have used the word comments but of course I didn't mean individual blogs. Stupid me. In any event have people register, using a graphical verification code and then respond to an email before being able to post a comment initially. Hey it's your business and you are Mindanao Bob. Who am I to argue. With the size of yur staff you'll figure it out one day.
Hi Bob,
Here in Canada, it's as easy as lining up, paying your fee, they will take a new phot as driver's license is valid for 5 years. Then you get a temporary paper license to prove that your card is on process; you get your license by mail in a week!
In a separate incident, I guess being a "filipino" slow is not only there back in my hometown but here as well in Canada. I renewed my Filipino passport , the consular website said it will take 6 weeks now as they need to make a machine readable one. I mailed my application (one of the options) with all the requirements which included finger print notarized by a lawyer/notary public.I mailed these documents in July hoping that it will be renewed in 6 weeks in preparation to my Vegas trip in September. Well, it was finally mailed to me in Ocotber!Wohooo!!! The whole consular office from Vancouver came to the city I lived in August, asked me to come and see them; I thought they wanted to personally hand my passport . No, in August, I lined up with 200 hundred other Filipinos from different cities in Alberta and had to deal with a very snooty consular assistant who thinks all Filipinos lining up were "smaller" than her. And oh, going back to my passport application, after an hour in the line and almost peed in my pants when this snooty short old Filipina yelled at me for not having my ID out, guess what, they wanted me to do another finger print to start processing my passport renewal application!!!Geez, my mailed documents & finger print , notarized and paid my lawyer fee was useless!!!I'm so glad I had my citizenship processed now, then I don't have to deal with snooty, slow consular stuff…Halelluliah!
Hi Bob,
I just opened LIP and found out it was your birthday yesterday. My greetings is not late yet. Belated happy birthday my friend.
By the way somebody mentioned that he just mailed in his drivers license for
renewal., and you said it might get lost in the mail . I'd say it will really get lost
if you and your next door neighbor has the same house number in the
street where you live. You know what I mean.Ha,ha,ha, No offend.
Robert
Hello again Bob,
What a fast reply, am still here in my chair reading some of your columns.
Cheers Bob. I will click on to the video of Feyma. Bye.
Bob, firstly happy birthday and many happy returns.
One of your best and funniest articles to date, a bit in the realm of Clive James.
My fiance and I were waiting in line to pay for our Electricity bill, when i noticed every once in a while all the staff would stop working. What the?…….I pointed this out to my partner and she said that I am a wingeing Aussie ( I have heard of wingeing Poms but WA )? Anyway I said it is true, and she replied it is ok its the Pines, the staff need a rest. lol Your article confirmed my observation.
Oh Bruce, on the mail issue. At least you may have a street with a name and a house with a number. We don't have any of those, even though the street here is 1 kilometre long. We just have the family name and Barangy to go by lol……hmmmm still waiting for my steaks to arrive from Australia!!!!
Love yer work son.
Happy Birthday Bob! Hope you had a good one.
Last time I renewed my license here in Aus, I took a ticket, which was like A105, and the last number called was A101, so I thought great, not too long to wait! Well the next number called was like, B205, then the next was D457, and so on until 55 minutes later I finally renewed my license, ( all at the one counter )
I guess I should have realised by the other 30 people waitng that I was in for a wait! he he, I should have seen that coming.
Hey, It is late, and, I confess, I have drunk a lot of wine, and I am somewhat, thought not severely, drunk. It seems that I have read a numbe of comments from this guy "Steven", and they are, at best, irritating! Any chance of him getting a gravatar so that there is actually an image to be annoyed at???
Happy Birthday Bob!!! Think I'm a day late, but the sentiment survives.
Jim
Howdy Bob, how ya doing young man? Have ya heard from Gene? Hopefully I'll be there before 11 June! Thats Nori's B'day. In June last year Nori got a report to DMV to renew her Drivers License. She thought she was going to have to take the test again! So she started studing for a week prior! We walked in got in line, Payed her fee, lady shot her photo and told to sit and wait. 1/2 hour later she was called. given her new license good for another 5 years. Nori then asked her "No test" , the lady said ..Do ya want a test? lol…Hope we can plan a trip someplace and you have the time to take off!!
Oh Geesh, I've got more calming down to do before going through that process, I'll get kicked out for sure…..
In Tn. at times lines grew to four our longs but changes were made. I just renewed mine from the Philippines.
I'm afraid I'll fail the drug test, I take at least 20 pills a day. Grrrr, I'd much rather be spending that cash on diving lessons. :(.
What you just wanted to put yourself through this rather than taking the short cuts? At least you got a funny story.
I feel an eruption coming on. Yea, I clearly have more polite training to do before I go to window four first. LOL
Oh, and there was no aircon right? American's are assuming there was aircon.
Did you get to sit down or did you have to stand for the entire time?
I stole your picture, that is one of the best shot of government I've ever seen. 🙂
I took pictures when I went to BI, they got pissy about it, asked me why. Maybe they were concerned about security
At least the girl in the window appears to be pretty.
Hi Bob,
I was wandering how did make to stay in the Philippines? Did you file greencard? Would you mind to tell me how is the processing? Do you really need to be marry a Filipino before you can stay there? Please help me?