PUV Drivers to Go Back to School With LTFRB's Planned Driving Academy

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) seeks to standardize the training of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers nationwide "to develop their skills and to ensure road safety and discipline" by putting up a driver training academy program for their ilk. According to LTFRB board member and spokesperson Aileen Lizada, the initiative to establish a driving academy for PUV drivers is part of the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) vision to modernize public transportation in the country. "All PUV drivers will be covered by the academy," Lzada said. "We need them to be retrained on road safety such as knowing different traffic signs and markings. Many accidents on roads could have been prevented if there are safety nets in place." In line with this, the LTFRB has sought the help of the Ateneo School of Government and the De La Salle University (DLSU) Psychology Department to create courses for the driver training academy program. The agency is supposedly set to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the educational institutions later this month, with the Ateneo School of Government providing modules on road safety while the DLSU Psychology Department will offer lessons on anger management and road rage. "We have observed that there is lack of competency exams for road safety in government agencies," Lizada added. "For instance, how to deal with road rages and prevent them from happening. That is the reason why we partnered with reputable academic institutions to seek for their assistance. We are grateful for Ateneo and La Salle for giving their support to this initiative." Under the program, PUV drivers will undergo seminars and examinations to evaluate their skills and competencies. Those who pass the exam will reportedly be given an identification card that's valid for one year and may be renewed thereafter. The LTFRB also plans to implement the seminars on a graduated basis--free of charge to PUV operators and drivers--depending on the level of qualification of drivers. Through the program, the LTFRB also hopes to consolidate a database for PUV drivers that will monitor their compliance with traffic rules and regulations which will also be shared with the Land Transportation Office (LTO). "It will be a prerequisite for PUV operators to only hire drivers who undergo and passed the training academy," Lizada concluded. The driver training academy program follows the DOTr's pronouncement that it seeks to modernize the jeepney by phasing out the current ones in use today for modern ones that use Euro IV emission-compliant engines.