14 May 2011
More lady bus drivers have undergone training on road and safety practices under the initiative of the Metro Manila Development Authorityand the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
A total of 35 lady drivers finished the training and have recently gone through a competency assessment by TESDA that will give the green light whether they are qualified to start plying their routes.
Of the 35, 13 passed the assessment and were given the certificate for Driving NC III.
The batch of trainees was the second since TESDA and the MMDA launched the initiative for prospective lady bus drivers.
A total of 23 lady drivers underwent the training in January, and 13 had been certified.
The MMDA partnered with TESDA in tapping drivers for the training and competency assessment amid the spate of highway accidents, especially in Metro Manila, a number of which have been caused by reckless male bus drivers.
"We have nothing against male drivers, but we thought that fielding lady drivers on the road would moderate their over-enthusiastic driving behavior and temper their being speed freaks," TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said.
Villanueva also pointed out that the presence of lady bus drivers would give commuters the choice of boarding a vehicle where they would feel safer.
"Being female driver could even be a plus factor for hiring by bus companies and operators," he added.
The MMDA recruited the lady drivers for the month-long training that was facilitated by the Center for Automotive Technology Corp., the training arm of the Philippine Automotive Federation, Inc. (PAFI). TESDA made the recommendation for the automotive group to conduct the activity because of its expertise.
After the training, TESDA assessed the skills of the participants and issued the certificates to qualified drivers.
"TESDA sets the training standard for all qualifications, including driving. At the end of the training it is responsible for assessing the competency of drivers and subsequent issuance of national certificates to those found competent," Gabriel Bordado, TESDA director of Competency Assessment and Certification Office, said.
The spate of road accidents that have claimed the lives of dozens especially in Metro Manila's major highways has prompted the two agencies to initiate the training and assessment for lady bus drivers to raise the safety level on the road.
The MMDA has started implementing other road safety measures, such as imposing a speed limit of 60 kph along Commonwealth Avenue inQuezon City.
Having the resources for training, TESDA said it hopes to get more lady drivers manning the wheels, saying it is also a way of empowering them and giving them source of livelihood.
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