Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade congratulated the 3,077 Tsuper Iskolar graduates under the Stakeholder Support Mechanism of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) who are now employed based on the latest data from the agency.

“Ako ‘ho ay lubos na nagagalak makitang napakikinabangan na ng ating mga kababayang tsuper, maging ng kanilang mga kaanak, ang mga benepisyong alok ng modernisasyon. Sinimulan natin ang programang ito para sa kanila, at masaya akong makitang matapos ng limang taong punung-puno ng pagsubok, unti-unti nang natatamasa ng ating mga kapatid sa industriya ng transportasyon ang pangako nitong mga benepisyo,” said Tugade.

The Department of Transportation together with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) launched the Tsuper Iskolar program which provides free skills assessment and entrepreneurship training support funds for transport drivers and other stakeholders that might be affected by the PUVMP.

Aside from the free skills training, beneficiaries of the program are entitled to receive an allowance of Php 350.00 per training day for their food and transportation costs.

The DOTr has further intensified the advancement of the said program in the midst of the pandemic to assist transport workers who have been affected by travel restrictions caused by quarantine restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in public transportation.

“Gusto kong ipahayag ang aking paghanga sa lahat ng ating mga transport partners, drivers, operators, at ang kanilang mga dependents – na buong pusong ibinigay ang kanilang time and effort in order to learn, train, and upskill under the Tsuper Iskolar program. Ipinakita nila sa pamamaraan na ito ang kanilang determinasyon at katatagan ngayong panahon ng pandemya,” Tugade said.

To date, 18,236 of 20,327 scholars have graduated from the program since its launch. 2,091 are still undergoing the skills training with TESDA.

There are 270 available slots for those who wish to join the program in the National Capital Region (NCR) according to TESDA.

DOTr is encouraging interested applicants to reach out to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO), or Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC). TESDA and their regional offices are also accepting online and walk-in applicants.

Tsuper Iskolar applicants need only to submit 1×1 photo, Birth Certificate, and any proof that they are in the transport sector. If a dependent of a transport worker, proof of the relationship of the main beneficiary from the transport sector must be submitted. For TESDA-accredited schools, other requirements may be required.

Target beneficiaries for the Tsuper Iskolar program include displaced persons affected by the PUVMP, stakeholders who opt to voluntarily exit from the transport industry and those who opt to continue in the transport industry through the PUVMP.

New stakeholders in the transport industry, and family members/dependents of the affected stakeholders up to the third degree of consanguinity or affinity can also benefit from the program.