By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) has lauded the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for its plan to introduce free road safety training for all public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in the country.
UNDOC Secretary-general Diego Malacad told Watchmen Daily Journal in a phone interview that the new program will definitely help educate drivers in Negros Occidental on proper road safety.
However, Malacad said they are also concerned for some of the drivers who have not received any basic primary education, which he said could hinder them in passing the road safety course.
“It’s a problem right now because the LTFRB’s education modules are now modern, and those who have not gone to primary school in the past could not catch up,” Malacad stressed.
Malacad further said they are also fearful of discrimination between the PUV drivers in the province, and is suggesting that those who could not pass the course should be given a chance by also introducing an alternative learning system (ALS) through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
He added it could become a headache for the government in the future if they do not introduce ALS along with the road safety course.
“We haven’t received any memorandum yet on the new proposal, but we have to tell the LTFRB in advance that we are ready to defend our members who have served in the PUV service since they were young,” Malacad added.
Under the LTFRB’s new program, the road safety course will tentatively start by June of this year.
The course itself would only last for two days, with modules on identifying road signage, and other basic safety rules when driving a PUV.
The LTFRB will also conduct an exam on drivers who take the course; if they pass, an identification card will be given.
Those who pass will also be added to the LTFRB database for monitoring purposes.
Drivers who fail, meanwhile, will be given a chance to retake the exam, but the LTFRB stated they will not allow the particular driver to drive any type of PUVs until he or she passes the course.
LTFRB Board Member Aileen Lizada explained the new course will help the PUV drivers in upgrading their driver skills and making them more professional.
Lizada also added the program is their answer to the growing number of deadly PUV accidents across the country./WDJ