Drivers and conductors of public utility vehicles must undergo comprehensive training as part of their franchise renewal, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Wednesday.

Under Memorandum Circular 2024-040, all PUV drivers and conductors holding a valid Certificate of Public Convenience, Provisional Authority and Special Permits will be required to attend the intensive training.

The agency will also institute the Driver’s and Conductor’s Academy Program, which will handle the accreditation of driving schools that train and educate PUV drivers and conductors on safety.

Required participants will pay a P2,000 enrollment fee to the program, which must be completed in at least two days and not exceed eight days.

“The pilot implementation of this training program will be confined first to Metro Manila and will be limited only to bus and truck drivers and conductors, and after three months to other metropolitan areas in the Philippines,” LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said in a statement.

Guadiz added that after a year, it will be implemented among UV and jeepney drivers, with motorcycles and Transport Network Vehicle Services in the last phase.

In a Facebook post, public transport group MANIBELA criticized the comprehensive training fee, calling it “Kumikitang Pangkabuhayan.” Meanwhile, interviewed jeepney drivers said they are willing to take the required comprehensive training, however, they pointed out that the P2,000 fee is expensive.

“As long as the drivers do not have to pay, it is okay for me, especially since it is for the safety of our commuters,” jeepney driver Fernando said.

Reynaldo Anobling, another jeepney driver, highlighted the positive outcome, particularly the opportunity to learn new skills such as first-aid rescue, which will be valuable in their work as jeepney drivers.

“Seminars and training like this are good, however, I hope they could reduce the P2,000 fee, especially since the price of diesel is also high,” Anobling said. “We can barely bring home P1,000 despite doing multiple trips due to different factors like heat and gasoline prices.”

The LTFRB said that this training will intensify the “importance of professionalism, courtesy, and communication” among public transport vehicle drivers and conductors.