LTO-7, TESDA ink MOA to integrate driving course to NC courses

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY -- Land Transportation Office (LTO-7) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA-7) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in March this year to harmonize the driver's training, education, and transformation of both agencies and to integrate its driving course to TESDA’s National Certificate (NC) courses to give the public more options in getting their driver's license without spending more.

LTO-7 regional director Victor Emmanuel Caindec said that both agencies are just waiting for the implementing guidelines to formally implement the partnership.  He added that they’re working to activate the TESDA NCII, NCIII program for its accreditation with LTO.

Under the MOA, TESDA Driving NC II will be equivalent to PDC for Non-professional Driver's License with restriction code 2 while TESDA Driving NC III will be equivalent to PDC for Professional Driver's License and/or additional restriction code of 3/8.

The MOA read that it "will empower TESDA and its training centers to offer Theoretical Driving Course and Practical Driving Course (PDC) equivalent to that being offered by the LTO Driver's Education Center."

Currently, LTO-7 is offering Technical Driving Courses (TDC) thru its DEC to the public who cannot afford a private driving school.

"This is still on top of the Malasakit Program of LTO where we're giving out free scholarships on Theoretical Driving Course in collaborations with local government units," Caindec said.

Caindec bared that as of April 30, LTO-7 has accredited 36 private driving schools around Central Visayas.

In Cebu City, the accredited driving schools are AZB88 Driving School, TL Mabuhay Driving Lesson Academy Inc., in Mambaling and Pahina Central, CTS-Cebu, and Smart Driving School in Mabolo.

Mandaue City has 4 available driving schools which include TL Mabuhay, AZB88 Driving School, NC Tiger Driving School, and P5 iDrive Driving School.

TL Mabuhay, AZB88 Driving School, and MJM Lapu-Lapu are also accredited in Lapu-Lapu City while in Talisay City both TL Mabuhay and Garnet Driving School are the public's option.

In Consolacion, TL Mabuhay and St. Raphael Driving & Technical School Inc. are accredited. TL Mabuhay, Primetech Skill Institute, and NC Tiger Driving School for Danao City residents.

Twin Driving Institute and TL Mabuhay for Medellin; and TL Mabuhay in both Bantayan Island and Camotes Island.

Balamban has two accredited driving schools which include TL Mabuhay and P5 iDrive Driving School; TL Mabuhay in Toledo City; TL Mabuhay and AZB88 Driving School in Carcar City; and P5 iDrive Driving School in Ronda.

There are three accredited schools in Bohol which are located at Tagbilaran City, Talibon, and Garcia Hernadez, all operated by TL Mabuhay.

In Negros Oriental, three TL Mabuhay schools in Bayawan, Dumaguete City, and Bais City are options, as well as Sto. Nińo Skills Training & Assessment Center. Inc., in Damaguete City.

Caindec added that the more driving schools, the fair level of course pricing, the more schools that are operating with the government also competing, pricing will level up.

Caindec revealed that one of their challenges in LTO 7's DEC is the no-show of the applicants. He said that LTO-7 has limited classroom capacity due to the 50 percent protocol requirement of the Inter-Agency Task Force due to the pandemic.

"If wala'y significant changes sa 50% capacity that is being implemented this year, with 25 per week, we are actually full for 2021," Caindec said. (Photos: Google Images/LTO7)