New requirement for license: TESDA to test all PUV drivers

CEBU, Philippines – All drivers of public utility vehicles will soon be required to undergo and pass a competency assessment by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Authorities hope to implement this by the end of the year. The first group that would undergo assessment would be the bus drivers.

This was bared yesterday by Engr. Rainero Tomas Jayme, head of the assessment unit in the regional office of TESDA.

He said that this is in compliance with Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Memorandum No. 2011-25 that before they can operate, their drivers must undergo and get certification from their (TESDA) office.

“All drivers must undergo TESDA assessment certification,” Jayme said during the forum held yesterday morning at the Philippine Information Agency office.

Jayme said that under the Memorandum of Agreement, they were tasked to facilitate the training of the drivers and assess their skills to determine if they can be given certification.

Jayme said this program is also in response to the memorandum issued by TESDA director general Joel Villanueva instructing all regional and provincial/district offices to implement assessment and certification for driving NC III as part of the celebration of the TESDA Month this August.

“If they will fail, we will not issue certificate to them,” he said.

Jayme said the bus and trailer truck drivers would either have to undergo trainings in TESDA schools or any accredited institution to get a certification from the agency or they may also enrol in private driving schools, but they must be assessed by TESDA.

Jayme also said that they are prepared to provide technical assistance for training and retraining to all drivers of public utility vehicles (PUV) to ensure safe road travel for their passengers.

He added that would-be drivers, who will secure a license should be prepared to have the national certification because by year 2013, the DOTC has programmed that one requirement in securing a driver’s license from the Land Transportation Office is the National Certification Level II (NC II) of TESDA.

Would-be drivers should not wait for year 2013 to apply for national certification, he said as he urged them to acquire the certificate ready for use.

Validity of the national certification is five years.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon, in a separate interview with The Freeman, said they already met the bus operators about this matter.

Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association president Richard Corominas and Julie Flores of the Cebu Provincial Mini-Bus Operators Association already agreed on the additional requirement.

Cuizon said the operators will provide the bus for the testing site.

According to Cuizon, the implementation of the Safety, Economical and Environment-Friendly Driving program emerged following a spate of road accidents involving buses, particularly in Luzon.

The SEED program also serves as a refresher course to drivers on both basic and advanced driving competencies and on critical driver’s skills such as maintenance procedure, driving preparation and post-driving procedure, observance of road rules and accident response procedure.

Citing on DOTC statistics, at least 85 percent of road accidents in the country are driver related. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)