By Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — A total of 252 drivers attended the Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program organized by Ford Philippines at the SMX Convention Center here on Thursday.
The DSFL, a United Nations-recognized safe driving program, was held in Bacolod for the first time as part of the automobile manufacturer’s commitment to educate drivers on the benefits of smart, safe, and fuel-efficient driving; and on the necessary driving skills to help minimize road accidents, altercations, and traffic congestion.
The participants included drivers of private vehicles and public utility vehicles (PUVs), traffic enforcers, road safety advocates, and student drivers.
EJ Francisco, assistance vice president for communications of Ford Philippines, said they brought the program to Bacolod to build a bigger community of safe drivers and road safety advocates around the country.
The DSFL program, conducted for free, is a combination of classroom training and hands-on driving simulation with trainers and facilitators from Tuason Racing School.
In Bacolod, two sessions were held — one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Each session ran for about two hours.
Francisco said the program focused on training more PUV drivers, particularly of bus, jeepney, school bus and taxi, to be safer and more responsible drivers.
Data from the Land Transportation Office showed that Bacolod City alone accounts for 22.31 percent, which is equivalent to 92,827 units, of the total 416,136 motor vehicles registered in Western Visayas last year.
The DSFL training was held ahead of the three-day Ford Island Conquest test drive road show, being staged in Bacolod for the second year, from Nov. 16 to 18 at SM City Bacolod.
