LTO 7 offers free driving classes to Talisay’s ‘habal-habal’ drivers

Following the success of the partnership between the Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 and the village chiefs of Cebu City’s mountain barangays, a scholarship for the Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) will be given to indigent drivers residing in Talisay City.

LTO 7 Regional Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec announced that 1,000 TDC scholarships will be allocated to the local government of Talisay City.

Caindec said City of Talisay-Traffic Operation Development Authority (CT-TODA) Chief Executive Jonathan Tumulak sent a letter requesting to offer the TDC scholarship to indigent applicants from Talisay.

Tumulak said the scholarship program will prioritize motorcycle taxi or “habal-habal” drivers.

A total of nine barangays will be given scholarship slots. Barangays Tapul, Lawaan 1, Lawaan 3, Lagtang, Jaclupan, Candulawan and Manipis will each get 100 slots while Barangays Maghaway and Tabunok will each have 150 slots.

The CT-TODA chief said they will prioritize drivers living in the mountain barangays.

The drivers can start taking the course this month if all the slots are taken.

Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. lauded the LTO 7 for bringing the agency’s services closer to the people.

“Akong dakong pasalamat ni RD Vic who continues to show what malasakit is all about (I am very grateful to Director Caindec, who continues to show what empathy is all about),” Gullas said.

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

In Cebu City, a total of 550 individuals from Barangays Sudlon 1 (200), Bonbon (150), Sinsin (100) and Sirao (100) graduated with TDC certificates, a requirement in the application for a student driver’s permit, as of November 5, 2021.

“We’re working hard to finish facilitating the 1,000 TDC scholarship for drivers from the remaining five upland barangays that supported the TDC of LTO 7,” Caindec said in a post on social networking site Facebook.

The director also revealed that this is the first time the LTO 7 went to the mountain barangays to extend not only the TDC scholarship but also its services through the Serbisyong Malasakit on Wheels.

“We brought the e-Patrol Malasakit Bus to the barangays so the renewal of licenses and registrations can be done there,” Caindec said, adding that the bus has reached barangays in Negros Oriental, Bohol and Cebu, including the islands of Bantayan and Camotes.

He committed that LTO 7’s services to the barangays will continue in the different parts of Cebu and Central Visayas.

In Cebu City, a total of 11 barangays from upland areas partnered with LTO 7 for the TDC scholarship for indigent residents.

Aside from delivering the government’s services to the barangays, Caindec said the LTO is committed to helping residents from upland areas address issues affecting road safety such as driving without a driver’s license and using a vehicle without registration and other documents. (PR)