LGU Salcedo, TESDA to conduct free driving lesson for SK
SALCEDO, Ilocos Sur, Sept. 23 (PIA) - - As part of the projects of its Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation, the local government unit (LGU) of Salcedo, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Ilocos Sur, will be implementing its "Driving Lesson Program" to SK members aged 17-30.
The main purpose of these driving lessons are to supplement the knowledge of practical driving and to prepare the learners for the driver license they wish to obtain, Mayor Leopoldo Gironella, Jr. said.
Earlier in August, the Land Transportation Office in the Ilocos (LTO-1) started to require all aspiring drivers to take 15-hour Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) in any of its LTO-accredited driving schools in the region prior to acquiring a student-driver's permit.
"Very timely po itong training dahil makakatulong ito sa mga kabataang gustong kumuha ng student permit at driver's license sa LTO," SK Federation Pres. Ana May Farol said.
Farol added that the SK Federation of Salcedo values its members' interest to driving and they hope that this program will be able to leave a lasting reminder to each trainees as it doesn't only teach driving method and procedures but also to include comprehensive knowledge of modern vehicle regulations and laws which will be useful in their day-to-day travel once they pass the lessons.
"Since then, alam naman po natin na most of our youth are fond of driving. So our LGU decided to have this kind of training for our kabataan para mapalawak yung kanilang mga kaalaman when it comes to driving at para may iba silang pagkaabalahan during this pandemic," she said.
She added, "With this activity, we are hoping po na mas mapaigting ang involvement ng youth sa lahat ng mga programa ng kani-kanilang barangay at ng LGU dahil naniniwala po ako na naibibigay naman po ng LGU ang needs ng mga kabataan."
The trainees will undergo a 15-day driving lesson program per batch of 25 trainees each.
"We opened the registration last Sept. 17 at since wala pong limit per barangay, as of now, nasa mahigit 100 na po ang nagpa-register," she added.
Mayor Gironella also clarified that the trainees for this program are not limited to SK members but also to other residents who are interested to learn.
"Hindi ito limited lamang para sa ating mga SK, kung may gustong magtuto na hindi SK member, open ang ating LGU pero ang gagawin natin ay sa ibang batch sila kasi priority muna natin ang SK as they are the implementing office ng programang ito," he said.
"Bukod sa libre ito, malaki din ang matitipid ng ating mga trainees dahil nag-request tayo sa TESDA na dito mismo sa ating bayan i-implement ang programang ito," he further added.
TESD Specialist II Wendell Botacion of the TESDA Ilocos Sur Provincial Office said that they target to conduct the program this October.
"Sa ngayon, we are identifying available trainer kasi iyong mga trainers po dito sa Ilocos Sur ay affiliated sa mga Technical Vocational Institutions at they are currently implementing training programs also. We are eyeing to implement it on October," he said.
Once the trainees finish the 15-day training, they may undergo Competency Assessment to obtain the National Certificate (NC) II or Driving NC II should they pass the assessment, he added.
Amid the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, in their own simple ways, the SF Federation of Salcedo has continued to serve the youth and the community.
"Simula po noong nag-start ang quarantine period, one of our simplest way to help our kabarangays/kailian is the dissemination of pre-emptive and informative measures regarding this pandemic COVID-19 through social medias. Tumulong din po kami sa pag-repack and pag-distribute ng mga relief goods from the LGU," she said.
She added that before the start of the SY 2020-2021 this October, they will be launching "SALCEDO PROJECT KABABATA."
"Under this project, we are going to distribute free workbooks and school supplies to all Daycare learners of Salcedo with the help of our LGU headed by Mayor Leopoldo Gironella, Jr. and Vice Mayor Grazielle Itchon," she said.
She also expressed her gratitude to the LGU as well as to the youth for their unending support and participation in all SK Federation's projects.
"Patuloy po tayong maging aktibo at makiisa para sa ikabubuti at ikauunlad ng ating bayan sa kabila ng kinahaharap nating krisis o pandemya. Huwag tayong mahiya o matakot na magsabi ng saloobin o anumang suhestiyon na makabubuti sa ating mga kabataan," she told the Salcedo youth. (JCR/AMB/JCMQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)