Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade urged drivers and conductors of public utility vehicles and their families to enroll in the DOTr-TESDA’s Tsuper Iskolar Program to enhance their driving and mechanical skills.

“Ito ho ay programa ng DOTr kasama ang TESDA [Technical Education Skills Development Authority] at katuwang din ang LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] na kung saan magbibigay ng kaalaman — skills and talents — sa mga tsuper, sa mga driver kung gusto nilang magmekaniko, o mag-troubleshoot na tinatawag ukol sa pagmamaneho, puwede silang mag-apply,” Tugade explained.

The Tsuper Iskolar program is a collaboration project of TESDA, LTFRB and the Office of the Transportation Cooperatives.

Tugade said that Tsuper Iskolar beneficiaries and their dependents will receive a regular stipend of P350 for the duration of the training.

If the PUV drivers and conductors decided to switch careers, they may apply for various jobs in the DOTR’s Rail sector for several ‘Build  Build Build’ infrastructure projects in Bulacan, he said.

In his recent visits to the Valenzuela and Bulacan segments of the Philippine National Railways Clark Phase 1 project, Tugade reiterated that the agency will prioritize the hiring of displaced PUV drivers and conductors, including former overseas Filipino workers.