‘Sagot sa road rage at kamote?’ LTFRB eyes creation of academy for PUV driver’s refresher course  

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is eyeing the creation of a national driver’s academy that will provide mandatory training on defensive driving and regular refresher course to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.

LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said the motorist education facility will not only provide mandatory training on traffic rules, passenger safety, stress and fatigue management, and basic vehicle care, but will also focus on behavioral assessments and digital attendance tracking. 

“This will institutionalize regular education for public utility vehicle drivers but this is not just another seminar. We envision a national institution that will define what it means to be a responsible, professional driver in the Philippines,” said Guadiz.

“If we want to save lives, we need to invest in the people behind the wheel,” he emphasized.

Guadiz said the move is in line with President Marcos’ marching order to implement long-term solutions in  reducing fatalities and ensuring commuter safety. 

In the past months, several fatal road crashes occurred which put into question government intervention to ensure safety of all road users as safety experts point to widespread poor driving behavior, lack of formal retraining, and regulatory gaps as core contributors to the surge in road crash incidents.

Transportation experts also pointed out the absence of structured, continuous education for PUV drivers and many professional drivers operate without undergoing standardized training beyond their initial licensing

Guadiz acknowledged that there is currently no national requirement for refresher courses, behavioral monitoring, or updated traffic law briefings once a license is issued. 

According to Guadiz, the concept of setting up a national driver’s academy was buoyed by the public response to the initiative as the recent survey of the Transport Reform Coalition revealed that seven in 10 commuters believe PUV drivers should be required to undergo periodic training as a condition for renewing their franchise or operating permits. 

“The Driver’s Academy, backed by both data and public support, is seen as a foundational step in raising road safety standards,” said Guadiz.

“With heavier traffic expected in the months ahead, especially in Metro Manila and other urban centers, the LTFRB’s Driver’s Academy stands as a crucial intervention in bringing the country closer to safer roads, one trained and accountable driver at a time,” he added.

It is not immediately clear, however, if the driver’s academy will be set up at least one in every region.