LTO-7 extends TDC scholarships to 1,000 ‘Habal’ drivers in Talisay City

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

TALISAY CITY—The Land Transportation Office (LTO-7) with the success in its first partnership with village chiefs of seven mountain barangays in Cebu City is set to extend the free scholarships for the Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) to 1,000 motorcycle taxi drivers known as ‘Habal-habal’ drivers in nine barangays in Talisay City.

LTO-7 regional director Victor Emmanuel Caindec said that these 1,000 TDC scholarships are allocated to the local government unit of Talisay City through its City of Talisay - Traffic Operation Development Authority (CT-TODA) Chief Executive Jonathan Tumulak who sent a letter request for the conduct of the TDC for the indigent applicants in Talisay City.

   

Caindec said that LGU Talisay City will allocate 100 free scholarship slots each to qualified ‘Habal’ drivers in Barangays Tapul, Lawaan 1, Lawaan 3, Lagtang, Jaclupan, Candulawan, and Manipis while Barangays Maghaway and Tabunok will have 150 slots each.

CT-TODA chief Tumulak said that they will give priority to the habal-habal drivers located and living in the mountain barangays and they are set to start in November after the slots are filled according to the allocation given to the identified barangays.

Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr., expressed his appreciation to LTO-7 and RD Caindec for bringing LTO services closer to his people.

“Akong dakong pasalamat ni RD Vic who continues to show what Malasakit is all about. He’s not only a good director and public servant, but most importantly he is a good friend,” Gullas said.

He commended Caindec for the type of governance LTO-7 has implemented since he started leading the regional office. “This is the type of governance we want to instill in Talisay, Aksyon Agad governance. Salute to you RD on behalf of the people of Talisay.”

Caindec encouraged group leaders who intend to avail of LTO 7's free scholarship to coordinate with the agency or with their village chiefs.

As of November 5, there were 550 individuals from Barangays Sudlon 1 (200), Bonbon (150), Sinsin (100), and Sirao (100) who graduated with TDC certificates, a requirement to apply for a student driver's permit, Caindec bared.

"Among gipaningkamutan nga mahuman ang 1,000 TDC scholarships sa nahabilin nga 5 upland barangays nga nihatag ug nisuporta sa TDC sa LTO 7," Caindec on his Facebook post. (We will try our best to complete the 1,000 TDC scholarships for the remaining five upland barangays that supported the TDC of LTO-7.)

Caindec revealed that this is the first time that LTO-7 went to the mountain barangays to extend not just the free TDC scholarships but including its services through the Serbisyong Malasakit on Wheels.

LTO-7 brought the e-Patrol Malasakit Bus to render services in the barangays that included the renewal of licenses and vehicle registrations. Caindec committed that services of LTO-7 to the barangay level will continue in the different parts of Cebu and Central Visayas.

"The LTO-7 e-Patrol Malasakit Bus has already reached in Negros, Bohol and other parts of Cebu Island including Bantayan and Camotes,” he said.

In Cebu City, 11 barangays from the upland area partnered with LTO-7 in giving the free TDC scholarships to the deserving and indigent residents in their jurisdiction.

Aside from delivering the government services to the grassroots level, LTO-7 committed to help residents from the upland areas address the key issues affecting road safety such as driving without a driver's license and using a vehicle without proper documentation such as registration. (Photos: LTO-7)