Yellow Bus Line begins NC III assessment of drivers

By Danilo E. Doguiles

Friday 6th of July 2012

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, July 6 (PIA) -- The Yellow Bus Line Inc. based here is working on the national certification of its drivers aside from complying with the Department of Labor and Employment’s order on fixed daily salary of drivers and conductors.

At the meeting with DOLE 12 Regional Director Chona Mantilla on Wednesday, YBL HR manager Norlan Yap also reported that they have already started the process to conform to the Department of Transportation and Communication’s Order No. 2011-25.

The order signed by former Secretary Jose P. de Jesus on April 26, 2011 directs the LTFRB to include driver proficiency standards as additional requirement in the issuance of Certificates of Public Convenience (CPCs), an authorization given to operators and owners to operate their facilities for public service.

It specifically commands that “drivers of public utility buses and heavy trucks should be certified by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) with Driving National Certification (NC) III;” this would form part of the documents to submitted for CPC application.

Earlier, TESDA 12 Regional Director Zeus Ampuyas explained, “this competency assessment is one way to professionalize the job of a driver. The public is assured that a TESDA-certified driver is proficient and knows about his duties and responsibilities.”

On June 7 officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 12 and TESDA-12 met with transport owners and operators in Soccsksargen Region on June 7 to disseminate the implementation of the DOTC order.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 12 board secretary Jessie dela Cruz was also present at the consultative meeting to discuss the provisions of DOLE’s order on fixed wages for drivers and conductors.

Yap said after their meeting with TESDA-12, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board -12, the YBL management in coordination with the employees union decided to immediately start the process for the assessment and certification of their driver.

“At least 60 of the 200 YBL drivers have already been assessed for NC III certification,” Yap reported. “Also, from July 9 until July 20 we have coordinated with TESDA-South Cotabato for the assessment of at least 10 daily.”

He said they are doing this move because “YBL management makes sure that the company is compliant with labor standard mandated by law.”

YBL, which has a fleet of 142 buses that ferry passengers travelling the routes from Isulan in Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato via Koronadal City, General Santos City to Davao City.

“The public can expect upgrades in our services not only with acquisition of additional buses but also on the type of services that we extend to our passengers,” Yap added.

On Wednesday, Yap along with YBL Employees Union President Jose Ronie Mondragon presented a copy of their collective bargaining agreement to Director Mantilla.

The CBA, he said is proof that the bus company has been in conformity with the Department Order 118-12 that mandates among others the giving of fixed daily salary rates and performance-based bonuses and incentives to drivers and conductors.

This order sets the rules and regulations on the employment and working conditions “to ensure the protection and welfare of drivers and conductors employed in the public utility bus transport company.”

Mantilla and Dela Cruz commended YBL management for their immediate response to the DOLE and DOTC orders.

Dela Cruz added that part of the itinerary of Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz during her visit to Soccsksargen Region , probably next week, would be to award YBL with labor standards compliance certificate. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)