MORE than 17,000 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators have benefitted from the government scholarship program, said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) chief said the project, dubbed Tsuper Iskolar Program, was implemented by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to help the sector hardly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Umabot na sa 17,284 na mga tsuper at operators ng public utility vehicles (PUVs) ang nakapagtapos ng training sa Technical Education and Skills Development Authority sa ilalim ng ng Tsuper Iskolar Program," the DOTr stated.

The Tsuper Iskolar Program is part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) being pushed by the government.

Under the Tsuper Iskolar Program, PUV drivers and operators and their respective families will be provided free skills training and assessment, including financial support, while they are undergoing schooling.

“Lubos naming ikinagagalak na marami nang mga tsuper, operator at kanilang mga kaanak ang nakapagtapos sa ilalim ng Tsuper Iskolar Program, at nagkaroon ng karagdagan na skills at kaalaman," Tugade said.

"Nakapakalaking bagay ho para sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa ating mga tsuper at operator ng mga pampublikong sasakyan na magkaroon ng karagdagang kaalaman upang mapabuti ang kanilang serbisyo, o ‘di kaya naman ay magkaroon sila ng kakayahan para sa iba pang pagkakakitaan lalo na sa panahon ng pandemya,” he added.

In 2019, Tesda and DOTr launched the program with P350-million funding.