Tesda ready to retrain bus, jeepney drivers

THE Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (Tesda) said the safety training and technical orientation of an initial 50,000 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers is set to begin soon.

According to Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva, a technical working group is now preparing the details of the program in cooperation with the Department of Transportation and Communications.

“Concerned government agencies are now working together to get the ball rolling in training our public utility drivers to ensure that their passengers are safe and to bring about order on the road. The string of accidents in the past weeks should not be repeated,” Villanueva said.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Bordado, Tesda Director of Competency Assessment and Certification Office said the agency wants to “bring service to the doorstep of the client” through the program.

Bordado said Tesda personnel would go to the terminals of jeep and buses to conduct an on-site assessment and determine if drivers are eligible to get a certification. This besides the agency conducting a series of tests to look into the drivers’ attitude, observance of traffic rules, safety and maintenance skills.

The Transportation and Communications department have earlier disclosed that it would shortly require all PUV drivers—particularly bus drivers to secure a certification from Tesda—before they could get a license from the Land Transportation Office.
Villanueva had committed to provide free technical assistance for these drivers following a request by Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose de Jesus to certify some 50,000 bus and truck drivers nationwide within the next two years.

The safety training and technical assistance program came about following the string of fatal road accidents during the Christmas season.

The department said 85 percent of road accidents were driver-related.

Meanwhile, Metro Bus Transport Operators Association spokesman lawyer Grace Adducul said that if they will be made to shoulder the fee for the driver’s safety training and technical orientation, then they have no recourse but to pass it on to     the consumers.

According to Adducul, it would be better if the drivers themselves will shoulder the expeses of the Tesda training. She said that if they train the drivers, there is a chance that they might also move to another company. If they hire a new bus driver then it would mean that they would have to undergo training anew.
A safety training and technical orientation costs P3,000.

On the other hand, Adducul said that they support the project of MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino to have lady drivers of buses as well.

She said though that having lady bus drivers is still not the solution to traffic in Metro Manila. –MARIA NIKKA U. GARRIGA AND JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA, Manila Times