I have no idea in how the Filipino driving licence can be converted in the UK, but here is a good news for Filipinos living in Italy (in France the conversion is easy too and free, I can explain it in another post if some are interested):
Ambassador Lhuillier driving success in Italy
By Rene Martel
The Manila Times - August 01, 2006
USING the impeccable connections that he has built during his fruitful and on-going tenure as the diplomatic point man of the Philippines in Italy, Ambassador Philippe Lhuillier has managed to extract a key concession on the motoring front for Filipinos living and working in Italy.
Just last week Ambassador Lhuillier sealed an agreement with the Italian Government which will allow Filipinos holding a Philippine driver’s license issued by the Land Transportation Office to convert it into an Italian license without having to go through the rigorous procedures normally required by Italian transport authorities.
In a country where even the carabinieri (Italy’s version of our boys in blue) drive around in Lamborghini patrol cars so as to be on the same speed gauge as the Italian criminal classes who have a fondness for fast cars, driving is not so much an everyday routine as an abiding passion.
Italian drivers use there hands as frenetically to control the steering wheel as to gesture to passing motorists who they feel are inhibiting them on the road.
So Filipinos are now welcome to partake in this driving cauldron where their driving skills will be tested as much as their temperament—though for anyone who has braved undisciplined jeepneys on Metro Manila roads the highways and byways of Rome will be a breeze.
Ambassador Lhuillier signed the agreement on behalf of the Philippine government, while Italian Minister of Transportation Alessandro Bianchi signed for Italy, the signing taking place in Italy’s Ministry of Transportation.
This is the first such agreement to be forged by the Philippine government with a member country of the European Union. The Filipino community in Italy applauded the signing of the agreement not only for its historic significance, but for the benefits it will give them.
“We understand that there are only a few countries that enjoy this privilege of automatic license exchange with Italy and we are honored to be one of those countries. We thank the Italian government for extending this privilege to us,” said Ambassador Lhuillier.
He also acknowledged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s role in pushing for the agreement. The President raised the issue during her meetings in June with Italian President Giorgio Napoletano and Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
In the absence of such an agreement, Filipinos would normally have had to attend an Italian driving school and pass the required theoretical and practical examinations before they can get a license to drive in Italy. Tuition fees for driving school are very costly and the required examinations are written and conducted in the Italian language. Most Filipinos find that a major obstacle owing to their lack of fluency with the language.
Besides exempting Filipino license holders from attending driving school and passing the written and practical driving exams, the agreement lowers the fee for the documents that Filipinos will have to get from the Embassy for the conversion of their licenses from 65 euros to 32.50 euros (a 50-percent decrease, or a saving of P2,112 at current exchange rates).
Ambassador Lhuillier expressed a hope that this agreement will serve as a precedent for similar agreements between the Philippines and other European Union members.
He added: “With the high number of Filipino migrants in Italy, this agreement will certainly take on added significance in their daily lives. We look forward to further widening cooperation between the Philippines and Italy as we fulfill a pillar in our foreign policy, that is to work out benefits for our growing population of Filipinos working abroad.”
Originally Posted by A_flyer
