'TSUPER ISKOLAR'. DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade and TESDA Director General Isidro Lapena pose with "Tsuper Iskolar" beneficiaries during the launch of the program in Muntinlupa City on Friday (June 28, 2019). About 5,075 “Tsuper Iskolars”, including 25,000 families, are beneficiaries of the program. (Photo courtesy of Department of Transportation)
MANILA -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) launched on Friday the “Tsuper Iskolar” program to provide scholarships and livelihood training to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in Metro Manila.
“Tsuper Iskolar” provides beneficiaries and their families with free skills training, skills assessment, and entrepreneurship training through courses offered by TESDA.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the initiative aims to improve the livelihood of public transport drivers in line with the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
“This program will provide further skills training to improve your livelihood as a driver. There is a program on how to become a mechanic, particularly how to maintain your vehicles. The transport cooperatives will be provided management and bookkeeping courses,” Tugade told the program’s beneficiaries in his address during its launch in Muntinlupa City.
During the event, scholarship grants were provided to drivers, operators and stakeholders from 179 transport cooperatives in Metro Manila.
Beneficiaries were likewise provided with food and transportation allowance worth PHP350 a day for 35 days of training.
Currently, 5,075 “Tsuper Iskolars”, including 25,000 families, benefit from the program.
“Tsuper Iskolar” was launched in April pursuant to a memorandum of agreement signed by the DOTr and TESDA in December 2018 under the PUVMP Stakeholder Support Mechanism Component.
The program will be rolling out across the country with its next launch scheduled in Cebu on July 5. (PNA)
