LTO holds road safety seminars for free

CEBU, Philippines - A free road safety seminar is being organized by the Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the bus and mini-bus operators in Cebu to educate public utility drivers to prevent future accidents.

The move apparently stemmed from the recent spate of vehicular accidents in the province involving passenger buses. LTO regional director Raul Aguilos is urging all public utility drivers to attend the free seminar to refresh them on the proper road safety and traffic rules and regulations.

The seminar is held every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Cebu International Convention Center. Aguilos said they will continue holding the free seminar until all public utility drivers are able to attend.

The joint project of the LTO,LTFRB, Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association and Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association started yesterday with 61 bus and mini-bus drivers in attendance.

Aguilos urged all bus and mini bus operators to have their drivers availed of the free road safety seminar for the drivers to learn defensive driving techniques.

LTO operations chief Aden Belza also encouraged other drivers even those who are not members of the CPBOA and CSMBOA to join the refresher course.

Belza said that those who attended the seminar yesterday took the written exams. Those who failed will undergo the proficiency exams or actual driving exam.

Belza explained that some drivers failed the written exams because they do not understand English instructions.

CSMBOA president Julito Flores thanked Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for giving them the CICC as venue for the trainings.

Flores said that the trainings for drivers came about after two major bus accidents that killed more than 30 people and several were injured.

Flores further said that drivers who are not members of any transport groups or associations are also welcome to join the trainings. — THE FREEMAN