13 female bus drivers to graduate from TESDA course

An initial batch of 13 female bus drivers will soon be plying major routes in Metro Manila, after the graduate this coming Monday from a driving course offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the 13, who are members of an initial batch of 31, are qualified to drive buses and trucks. "We are proud to present our first batch of lady bus drivers that completed and passed a series of training and competency tests. They are as competent as their professional male counterparts," MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said in a news release posted on the MMDA website Thursday. The graduation rites will be held at the TESDA grounds in Makati City at 8 a.m. Monday. Among the guests in the graduation will be TESDA Secretary General Joel Villanueva. This early, three bus companies – HM Bus, Philtranco, and RRCG – have expressed their interest to hire the 13 lady bus drivers. As an incentive to bus companies, the units to be driven by the TESDA-qualified lady bus drivers will be exempted from the number coding scheme, said Tolentino. The MMDA identified the 13 graduates as:

* Ma. Fresa Repomanta, 44; * Salve Canita, 46; * Olivia Pabriga, 52; * Edbeth Gan, 35; * Leonila Bathan, 43; * Rosemarie Iligan, 50; * Janet Mendez, 40; * Yolanda Blanco, 51; * Jennifer Javier, 26; * Luzviminda Dumalag, 46; * Ferry Anne Alberto, 37; * Kathleen Anne Mabagos, 28; and * Blessy Palisoc, the youngest at age 24.

Gan, a computer technology graduate, worked as a driver in Dubai, while Bathan served as a family driver in Abu Dhabi for six years. Blanco worked as a family driver for seven years, while Mendez is a graduate of BS Criminology and worked as construction service driver. "The 13 came from an initial batch of 31 applicants pre-screened by the MMDA. Twenty-one eventually underwent gruelling skills assessment tests conducted by TESDA driving instructors on February 23 at the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City," the MMDA said. It said the tests included written examination, skills demonstration, and oral questioning. Crash courses on maintenance and servicing of vehicles, pre- and post-operation procedures on vehicles, observance of traffic rules and regulations; coordination of accident emergency procedures; and actual driving test of a passenger bus or straight truck were also given. — LBG, GMA News