Following the successful partnership between the Land Transportation Office Region 7 (LTO-7) and the village chiefs in the mountain barangays of Cebu City, the free scholarships for the Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) are set to be extended in Talisay City.
LTO-7 Regional Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec announced that 1,000 TDC scholarships will be allocated to the local government unit of Talisay City.
Caindec said the Talisay City government through its City of Talisay-Traffic Operation Development Authority (CT-TODA) Chief Executive Jonathan Tumulak sent a letter request to also conduct a TDC for the indigent applicants in Talisay City.
Tumulak said the free scholarships will prioritize motorcycle taxi drivers or known as "habal-habal" drivers.
A total of nine barangays will be given free scholarship slots where barangays Tapul, Lawaan 1, Lawaan 3, Lagtang, Jaclupan, Candulawan, and Manipis will receive 100 slots while barangays Maghaway and Tabunok will each receive 150 slots.
The CT-TODA chief said they will prioritize the habal-habal drivers in the mountain barangays.
They are also set to start this November should the slots will be filled according to the allocation given to every barangay.
Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas Jr., also thanked LTO-7 for bringing the LTO services closer to the people.
“Akong dakong pasalamat ni (A big thanks goes to) 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," said Gullas.
The mayor also lauded the director for the type of governance he has implemented since it started leading the regional office.
Caindec also encouraged group leaders who intend to avail of LTO-7's free scholarship to coordinate with the agency or their village chiefs.
As of Nov. 5, a total of 550 individuals from barangays Sudlon 1 (200), Bonbon (150), Sinsin (100), and Sirao (100) graduated with TDC certificates, a requirement to apply for a student driver's permit.
"Among gipaningkamutan nga mahuman ang 1,000 TDC scholarships sa nahabilin nga five upland barangays nga nihatag ug nisuporta sa TDC sa LTO-7 (We are working hard to complete the 1,000 TDC scholarships left for the five upland barangays that supported the TDC of LTO-7)," Caindec said on his Facebook post.
The director also 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.
"Gidala nato ang e-Patrol Malasakit Bus para didto na mismo sa mga barangays ang serbisyo sa renewal sa licenses and registrations (We brought the e-Patrol Malasakit Bus to the barangays to bring our services of license and registration renewal in their area)," said Caindec.
The director also committed that services of LTO-7 to the barangay level will continue in the different parts of Cebu and Central Visayas.
"Ang LTO-7 e-Patrol Malasakit Bus niabot na ni sa mga layo nga lugar sa Negros, Bohol ug sa mga lain-laing lugar sa Cebu Island apil na sa Bantayan ug Camotes (The LTO-7 e-Patrol Malasakit Bus has reached remote areas in Negros, Bohol, and different places in Cebu Island including Bantayan and Camotes)," he added.
In Cebu City, a total of 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 is committed to helping 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. (PR)
