Cebu City to Include Drivers Affected by PHP10.6-B BRT in Livelihood Training

The Cebu City Government will include public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers in livelihood trainings initially offered to PUJ operators affected by the implementation of the PHP10.6-billion Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the city, an official said.

Lawyer Rafael Yap, Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) chief, said they opened 550 slots for the training of PUJ operators, but only 34 availed themselves of the program.

The project is an employment assistance program which provides skills training to be given by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in partnership with the Department of Transportation.

The move is aimed to provide new livelihood skills to those who will be affected by the rerouting and construction of the BRT system.

Yap said they decided to open the Tesda program to drivers of the affected routes in order to widen the pool of interested persons to apply in the program.

Yap said the operators are less interested in the Tesda programs at this point.

He said the PUJ drivers can still enroll in the 17 courses offered by Tesda even if the registration started last Aug. 22 and has ended last September 23.

The courses include driving, shielded metal art welding, auto servicing electrical maintenance, plumbing, masonry, carpentry, contact center, housekeeping, bread and pastry production, refrigerator and air conditioning servicing, wellness massage, cookery, computer system servicing, bookkeeping, dressmaking and food processing. (PNA) FPV/EB/EDS