Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Philippine Railways Institute (PRI) continues with its training support to the country’s railway industry by offering its Refresher Training (RT) course in an online platform.
Since its launch in July 2020, the Web Refresher Training (WRT) Course has accommodated railway operators in lieu of the usual face-to-face RT Course.
The conduct of a face-to-face RT Course was restricted following the enforcement of the community quarantine in March 2020, coupled with strict physical distancing policies set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Although in an online environment, the PRI, using the same training design and materials, still aims to build the capacity of Philippine railway personnel, with further emphasis on railway safety and passenger satisfaction, especially with the present heightened rules forced by COVID-19 on the transportation sector.
Since its pilot run in October 2019, five (5) batches with 116 certified personnel have completed the scheduled RT Course.
The PRI is a research and training center for the railway sector under the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
It serves as the planning, implementing, regulating, and administrative entity for the development of human resources in the railway sector to ensure the delivery of efficient, reliable, and safe railway transportation services.
The PRI also ensures that personnel working in each railway line have the right knowledge, skills, and attitude for operations and maintenance through the issuance of certificates of competencies.
The establishment of the PRI is supported by a ¥670-million grant from the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, in addition to a ¥1.2-billion grant for train simulators.
The PRI and its complete range of best-in-class training equipment will soon be housed in a seven (7)-hectare training center at the Valenzuela Depot of the Metro Manila Subway.
With the training center’s completion, the PRI shall offer Fundamental Training (FT) Courses to personnel of new and expanded railway lines to establish an industry-level understanding of railway operations and maintenance.
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