22 modernized PUVs soon to run in Kalinga, 34 drivers trained

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Thirty-four drivers of the Cordillera Basic Sectors Transport Cooperative (CBSTC) - Kalinga are now ready to operate modernized vehicles in the province after having completed their 12-day training on Friday, November 27, 2021.

Said vehicles will be in accordance with the specifications prescribed under the Omnibus Franchise Guidelines of the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program.

To pilot the program, 22 drivers will start to operate along the Tabuk to Tuguegarao route next month while another 12 will be operating along the Balong-Dilag-Dagupan route by next year.

Said drivers were trained by the cooperative, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) through a series of modules as part of the full implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) of the Duterte Administration in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Additionally, the drivers underwent Digital Literacy Training or the usage of CBSTC and SmartCoop, 7 Commandments of Public Transport during the COVID-19 pandemic and received lectures about fleet management on Values Re-orientation and Personality Development, Land Transportation office Rules, Laws and Regulations, Cooperative Education and Transport Operations, minor vehicle maintenance and servicing.

Hands-on orientation through actual viewing of the car parts and dry run to road test the modernized vehicles were done, following the completion of their training.

Kalinga is expected to get 22 units of modern PUVS for the pilot test to be operated by the trainees.

“Twelve days [diay training] ngem maki-13 [day] tu diyay assessment dan tu idiay TESDA-Region CAR for NC III,” CBSTC-Kalinga Provincial Manager Brandy Bitalan said in an interview, adding that the NC III is required before allowing them to operate the modern PUVs.

As for other routes in Kalinga, particularly in Tabuk City, Bitalan related that they were able to get the Dagupan-Dilag and Balong route, which will enable them to get additional 30 units of class 2 modern PUVs for operation next year.

Other routes are yet to be opened in the city, pending the approval of the city’s proposed route plan.

Further, CBSTC-Kalinga, is now closely coordinating with the Regional Office for the opening of other routes, including Tabuk to Santiago, Tabuk to Baguio via Ambuclao, Tabuk via Tugueguerao to Manila, and Tabuk to Clark routes.

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