PRI steps up online training with new Learning Management System; Conducts first batch of training through the platform

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The Philippine Railways Institute (PRI), an agency under the Department of Transportation (DOTr), launched its new online learning platform, the Learning Management System (LMS), through the conduct of its Web Refresher Training Course on 15 February 2021.

The LMS aims to provide the existing railway operations and maintenance workforce a platform that allows self-paced learning, while still encouraging the trainees’ participation through facilitated contact sessions.

With the LMS, PRI’s training courses are now administered, delivered, tracked, and automated in just one online platform.

"I am delighted that, in keeping with the times, the PRI is now able to provide remote learning sustainably during, and even beyond, this pandemic. PRI is now part of a growing number of institutes and organizations that have adopted this kind of learning platform,” DOTr Undersecretary Anneli Lontoc, the Officer-in-Charge of PRI, emphasized.

Last week, the railways institute successfully conducted the first LMS-delivered Refresher Training Course, with 30 railway personnel and 15 graduating college students as participants.

The pandemic’s disruptions have accelerated technological trends in the fields of learning and education. Instructional methodologies are evolving with the adoption of innovations to address limitations set by health and safety protocols to prevent the further spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

It may be recalled that before the strict community quarantine was imposed due to the pandemic in March 2020, the PRI was conducting the Refresher Training Course (RT) face-to-face. A total of six batches graduated from the course. From July 2020 to February 2021, the learning institute shifted to the Web Refresher Training Course (WRT), an online course conducted through the Zoom platform, with 15 batches completing it.

In November 2020, PRI expanded the scope of its WRT to include graduating college students with railways-relevant background, and returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with railway operation and maintenance experience.

With the growing number of participants, and the challenge of conducting face-to-face classes, the PRI developed its own platform, the LMS.

The LMS gives PRI instructors and railway trainees an academic and scalable digital learning environment alongside the existing video platform being used by the Institute. It is also mobile-friendly, which allows trainees and instructors seamless access to learning materials anytime and anywhere.

“This is again a great next step in PRI’s learning strategy that will have a positive impact on learning across the railways sector,” Usec Lontoc said.

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 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 JPY 670 million grant from the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Common Outcomes of 18-Wheeler Accidents

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Wrecks involving 18-wheelers are much different than run-of-the-mill car accidents. This fact should come as no surprise, considering a typical 18-wheeler weighs 80,000 pounds, which is behemoth when considering the average car only weighs about 5,000 pounds.

Because of the sheer force of the weight behind these trucks, damage can be catastrophic and prosecuting the legal cases is much more complicated. Hiring an experienced attorney will give you the best chance of receiving adequate financial compensation for your pain and suffering, lost wages, and most importantly, injuries. Fatalities are not uncommon, and families are left behind in financial ruin, having to prosecute for wrongful death. The whole experience can be overwhelming.

Greater Devastation Leads to Bigger Settlements

Accidents involving cars and small trucks happen more often, but 18-wheeler wrecks are much more lethal. If there is a silver lining, payouts are usually commensurate with the damage done. While money is a very small consolation when you are seriously hurt or you are grieving the loss of a loved one, knowing that the at-fault party will substantially pay for their negligence can be heartening and protect the next innocent driver from the careless trucker.

Often your lawyer will be suing a company instead of an individual driver, and those payouts can be substantial. Consider that in May 2019, a jury in Texas awarded $80 million in damages to a truck driver who proved that the company that employed him forced him to change his logbook and work overtime, exceeding the federal limit for hours of service rules.

Lauro Lozano wound up falling asleep while driving and crashed into another big rig, crushing his pelvis and suffering trauma to his abdomen. Excessive medical expenses for such catastrophic injuries are just one reason settlements can balloon into the millions of dollars. Unfortunately, there are many other reasons as well.
Inability to Work and Loss of Income

Eighteen-wheeler accidents may result in permanent disability or a prolonged time away from the workplace. It is possible that the victim is completely unable to return to their previous profession. The inability to carry on with a chosen career often results in a larger settlement, including not only financial loss, but also mental anguish and sorrow at the loss of a beloved career.

More Property Damage

When colliding with these super-sized 18-wheelers, a regular car or truck is usually a total loss. That means the driver is often entitled to the entire Blue Book value of the vehicle.

Pain and Suffering

The insurmountable fear of being run off the road or getting into a collision with a huge truck can lead to unspeakable physical as well as emotional distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The judge will take into account the impact on daily life activities when calculating the amount to be paid.

Extensive injuries are almost always the outcome of large vehicle wrecks:

Traumatic brain injury
Wrongful death
Internal bleeding
Loss of limbs or amputation
Paralysis
Herniated disc
Whiplash
Severe lacerations
Blunt force trauma

If 18-wheeler accidents sound like your worst nightmare, you're not alone. Every day, we see victims that feel hopeless and helpless when confronting the large insurance companies hired by trucking companies. But don't be bullied.

Understanding and applying the law to these complex cases is what a truck accident law firm specializes in. In many cases, with time and patience and the right legal counsel, complete resolution and satisfactory financial recoveries are achieved. Tragic 18-wheeler accidents can, and often do, result in positive outcomes.

Could rabbit meat become acceptable as alternative to pork, chicken and beef?

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Is eating rabbit like eating your dog? Both of them our currently mostly our households pets. There are not too many breeders that raise them like chickens...yet. Should we eat alternative food like, fish, soya and others instead of rabbit? Or is it time for the Philippines to grow their rabbitry business?

It's still a long way to go for the Philippines. Should the government consider cultivating the rabbit meat industry?

Rabbit meat is one of the healthiest, leanest, and most environmentally friendly meats you can eat. Compared to beef, pork, lamb, turkey, veal, and chicken, a rabbit has the highest percentage of protein, the lowest percentage of fat, and the fewest calories per pound. The Italians and French eat rabbit the way Americans eat chicken, which is to say, quite often. Rabbit meat is tender, lean, delicious and as versatile as chicken, to which it can also be compared in taste.

They are far less fragile than pigs, and their numbers can grow fast, hence the expressions multiply like rabbits, and f**k like bunnies. It may be expensive NOW but with wide acceptance and an increased supply, the price will eventually drop to a reasonable level.

Government support is vital for this industry to take off. the rabbit's great potential to feed us is drowned by abounding misconceptions among the masses.

It is viable as rabbits multiply incredibly fast. You need a wider space for raising rabbits, though to accomodate their growing population. DA must provide training as rabbits tend to attract a variety of predators, and a host of other issues. In time, we shall see Filipinos eating rabbits. Hindi kelangan magmahal. Eh, lintek, pagkain lng ng mahihirap yan sa Europe at Australia.

At the moment rabbit is much expensive than pork. One small rabbit is sold 500-1k and not even reach 1kilo in weight. But hopefully soon it will become more affordable and competitive when acceptance and demand rise. It won't be pricey if there's enough to go around with. If They can breed chickens why not rabbits also but don't know if it's cost effective anti chicken. Better eat corrupt politicians! 100 % clean life style and eating the best feeds but not enough for the majority! Hahahaha Bon appetite.

It is a very common food in countries like Italy, tasty.. I don't understand the stigma for the rabbit here in the Philippines.