GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is planning to enlist more scholars from Region 12 (Soccsksargen) this year into the flagship “Tsuper Iskolar” program.
DOTr Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor said on Wednesday they are currently working with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for the expansion of the program’s coverage in the area.
He urged members of tricycle operators and drivers’ associations (TODA) and other public transportation workers in the city to avail of the scholarship program, formally launched in the region in August last year.
“All public transportation workers here are welcome to take part in this program,” he said at the first-ever TODA summit here.
Through the initiative, Pastor said public transportation workers could gain new skills and better livelihood and employment opportunities.
He said the program was mainly designed for transport workers who will be affected by the national government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
But it is also open to dependents of transport workers, indigenous peoples, former Overseas Filipino Workers, and rebel returnees.
Under the program, the scholars will be given free skills training, skills assessment, entrepreneurship training, and training support fund of PHP350 per training day to cover their food and transportation allowance for a maximum of 35 days.
The beneficiaries may choose from a range of skills training courses, depending on their preferred qualifications, that will be offered through TESDA’s partner technical-vocational institutions.
“This is part of the government’s efforts to improve the lives of our transport workers and their families as we continue with the rollout of the PUV modernization program,” Pastor said.
DOTr and TESDA allotted an initial PHP23 million last year for the rollout of the “Tsuper Iskolar” program in Region 12.
The funds covered the scholarship benefits of some 1,496 public transport workers and their dependents from various parts of the region. (PNA)
