By INA HERNANDO MALIPOT
18 Jan 2011
MANILA, Philippines — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) kicked off on Monday its six-day training program for prospective driver trainers or assessors who will train other public utility bus (PUB) drivers to ensure road safety for bus passengers.
According to TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva, at least 30 PUB drivers joined the pilot training program which will be conducted until Saturday, Jan. 22 at the TESDA Women’s Center (TWC) in Taguig City.
“The participants were among the country’s most qualified bus and truck drivers who were selected and nominated by the bus operators to assist us in identifying bus drivers eligible for the certification,” Villanueva explained.
The participants were mainly from the National Capital Region and Region IV. Before they can participate in the pilot training, the drivers should be holders of professional driver’s license and certified TQ1 for Driving NC II or have a minimum one year experience in driving bus and straight trucks.
Villanueva said the initial batch of prospective trainers trained and assessed by TESDA will become trainers and assessors of PUB drivers.
“They will be the ones who will train and assess the other drivers,” he added.
The TESDA chief said the training program for prospective trainers/ assessors will be done in two stages.
“Stage One will focus on Safe, Economical and Environment-Friendly Driving (SEED) and Stage Two will be on the Assessment Moderation and Conduct of NC III Assessment,” he added.
Villanueva said the program is being implemented in partnership with the Philippine Automotive Federation, Inc. (PAFI), South Luzon Bus Operators Association (SOLUBOA), and other associations of bus operators in the two regions.
He said the training 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 (LTFRB) which will require all PUB drivers to be Driving NC IIIcertified by 2013.
“We have also come up with a separate training regulation for drivers of articulated vehicles or big trucks carrying heavy equipment, on top of the existing regulation for bus and straight truck drivers under Driving NC III,” he said.
Currently, Villanueva disclosed that 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,” he added
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