Valenzuela drivers get training on road courtesy

Valenzuela City is offering training on basic road courtesy to 15,000 drivers of public utility vehicles, including pedicabs, tricycles and jeepneys, Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian announced over the weekend.

The training program, which begins today, is being sponsored by the city government in cooperation with the Valenzuela Polytechnic College (ValPoly) and the Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA).

Dubbed the TSUPER Program, the program is envisioned to enhance the skills of drivers and lead to better traffic conditions in the city.

Included in the module for TSUPER, which stands for Tamang Serbisyo at Ugali sa Pagmamaneho, Ehemplo Rito (sa Valenzela), were values inculcation, professional discipline, personality development, re-orientation and review of traffic rules and regulations and road signs. The program includes bonus basic tips on troubleshooting, particularly stalled vehicles as they contribute to traffic jams on busy routes.

"Traffic congestion and accidents could easily be avoided and prevented with good driving fundamentals, basic road courtesy and strict observance of traffic rules and regulations. These we hope to achieve under the TSUPER Program which we begin today. Our gratitude goes to both ValPoly and Tesda for initiating this re-training program for our local drivers. Rest assured that you will have our full support," Gatchalian said.

The program also complements Gatchalian’s "Valenzuela, May Disiplina" program launched shortly last year after he assumed office.

The drivers’ training will be conducted by instructors from the Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG), the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the city hall’s Traffic Management Office (TMO).

ValPoly executive director Edison Nalo said the program was hatched with TK-Caloocan, Malabon Navotas, Valenzuela (CAMANAVA) area headed by Dr. Amancio Villamejor and the city government.

Qualified to join the training program are members of the city’s Association of Public Utility Vehicles, including 5,000 pedicab drivers, 5,000 tricycle drivers and some 100 jeepney drivers plying the Karuhatan-Novaliches and Karuhatan-Gen. T. de Leon routes.

Nalo told The STAR that the program was conceptualized for implementation in Metro Manila, with Valenzuela City taking the lead role as a pilot site.

"Natuwa ako (I was glad that) after they (drivers) were informed about the program, namin nilang disiplina talaga ang kailangan (they admitted that discipline is needed)," Nalo said of the prospective participants in the dialog after the program was officially launched earlier. The participants, he added, will be declared certified "TSUPER ng Valenzuela" after the training.

Official identification cards (IDs) will be issued, however, issued only after participants completes a one-month performance evaluation and monitoring.

After the assessment, the presidents of the three groups (pedicab, tricycle and jeepney associations) will recommend who gets the TSUPER ng Valenzuela ID.

Nalo added that minor violations will draw a reprimand but repeat violators will suffer confiscation of their IDs and face forfeiture of certain privileges like availment of capital for livelihood for family members.

A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed earlier this week between the city government, TESDA- Camanava and ValPoly for the implementation of the program.