DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade urged drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in Cavite to enroll in the slots to be opened for the Tsuper Iskolar Program during his visit to the province on Friday, (July 2,2021).

An initiative between the DOTr and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in cooperation with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Office of the Transportation Cooperatives (OTC), the Tsuper Iskolar program is in line with the Stakeholders’ Support Mechanism Component of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

The Tsuper Iskolar aims to provide participating PUV drivers, conductors, and their family members with free skills training, skills assessment, and entrepreneurship training. Participants in the program are given a daily stipend of P350 for the duration of their training under TESDA.

During his visit, Sec. Tugade narrated his life story to inspire PUV drivers and operators and stress how added knowledge and continuing learning can help improve lives.

“Kaisa ninyo ako. Nanggaling ako sa wala. Ngayon meron. Kung kinaya ko naman ‘yun, kakayinin n’yo rin. Nandito kami upang makipagdayalogo, upang mapaliwanag ang Tsuper Iskolar Program. Maniwala ka kaibigan, ‘yan ay magbubukas sa’yo ng pinto pandagdag pangkabuhayan ninyo,” Sec. Tugade said in his dialogue with transport groups and government officials.

The slots for the Tsuper Iskolar Program will be replenished to accommodate more PUV drivers, conductors, and their beneficiaries.

DOTr Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor said the P100 million needed budget to open 4,000 more slots for the program was allotted under the 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which is expected to be released to the Department on the 3rd quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, Sec. Tugade also explained to drivers the benefits of the Program Assistance to Support Alternative Driving Approaches (PASADA,) which is the financing program of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for transport stakeholders who will take part in the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Under PASADA, the DBP will provide financial assistance to accredited transport cooperatives with a “5-6-7” repayment scheme. The financial assistance – 5% equity, 6% annual interest, and payable within seven (7) years will enable corporations and cooperatives to buy brand-new vehicles that are compliant with PUVMP standards.

While DBP will transact exclusively with Transport Service Cooperatives (TSC), Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) will offer the same payment scheme to driver-operators who are members of TSCs.

DBP pointed out that only brand new vehicles are eligible for the loan and that the bank will look at the profitability of the proposed routes and the new vehicles’ technical sustainability to ensure that the bank will be repaid.

“Pwede rin pong ipaayos ang sasakyan as long as it will pass as roadworthy,” Tugade clarified as a driver asked if he can repair his vehicle instead of buying a new one.

Tugade has also called on transport stakeholders to be a strong partner of the government in its fight against corruption. Reiterating the significant role of PUV drivers in achieving the DOTr’s goal to end corrupt practices, Sec. Tugade urged them to expose any corrupt official in the ranks of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) or the LTFRB in their area.

“Kung mayroon ‘ho kayong alam na korapsyon. Mamaya, pagkatapos na pagkatapos nito, bigyan mo ako ng pangalan, titingnan ‘ho natin yan. Ayaw po ng presidente ng korapsyon, ayaw ko rin ng korapsyon,” the Secretary responded to a question forwarded anonymously, during the dialogue, asking how drivers can report such act.

Sec. Tugade said that under his administration, over 200 personnel across DOTr attached agencies nationwide were dismissed from service for involvement in illegal activities.