17 Jan 2011
MANILA, Philippines - At least 30 public utility bus (PUB) drivers who will later become trainers and assessors of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are set to join a 6-day training program starting on Monday.
TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said in a press statement Sunday that the training program will be done in 2 stages.
Stage 1, from January 17 to 19, will focus on safe, economical, and environment-friendly driving (SEED).
Stage 2, from January 20 to 22, will be on the assessment moderation and conduct.
The training program will be held at the TESDA Women’s Center in Taguig City.
“This is the initial batch of prospective trainers who will be trained and assessed by TESDA to become trainers and assessors of PUB drivers. They will be the ones who will train and asses the other drivers,” Villanueva said.
He added that the 30 participants were among the country's most qualified drivers who were selected and nominated by the bus operators to assist TESDA in identifying bus drivers eligible for the certification. They are from the National Capital Region and Region 1V.
All participants should be holders of professional driver's license and certified TQ1 for Driving NC II or have a minimum 1-year experience in driving buses and straight trucks.
The training is free, but participants must shoulder their transportation and meal expenses.
The program is being implemented in partnership with the Philippine Automotive Federation, Inc. (PAFI), the South Luzon Bus Operators Association (SOLUBOA), and other associations of bus operators in the 2 regions.
This is also in preparation for the implementation of a new directive from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, requiring all PUB drivers to be Driving NC III-certified by 2013.
TESDA has also come up with a separate training regulation for drivers of articulated vehicles or big trucks carrying heavy equipments, on top of the existing regulation for bus and straight truck drivers under Driving NC III.
“Currently, there is no training center offering the program for Driving NC III because of the difficulty in providing equipment for the driving of articulated vehicle. To speed up the process and facilitate the training and assessment of drivers, TESDA has decided to have a separate Training Regulation for Driving NC III for articulated vehicles,” said Villanueva.
“Thus, there will be two Training Regulations for Driving NC III. These are: Driving NC III (Bus Drivers and Straight Truck) and Driving NC III (Articulated Vehicles). Likewise, there will be separate assessment instruments for the two qualifications,” he explained.
From 140 hours or 18 days, Villanueva said the training duration for bus and truck drivers will now only be 122 hours or 15 days.
"TESDA is doing its part in setting the stage for the full implementation of the NC III certification program to make sure that the country's bus drivers are skilled, disciplined and can take care of their passengers while on the road," Villanueva said.
"We don't want another road tragedy similar to what happened in the past weeks," he added.
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