Grab's ‘Daan ng Natigil’ gives livelihood opportunities to out-of-school youths

MANILA: Grab Philippines has partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to launch the Daan ng Natigil program, which gives livelihood opportunities to Filipino out-of-school youths.

Thirty out-of-school youth beneficiaries from the Philippine Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) will be given access to upskilling programs and exclusive benefits to help them achieve their life-long goals.

Grab Philippines gave each beneficiary a brand-new bike, which will be used once they are onboarded as Grab delivery partners.

Grab Philippines is supported by TESDA in the upskilling programs that includes training and non-training certification to strengthen the competence of the beneficiaries in today’s digital economy. The beneficiaries will also benefit from the express lane provided by the LTO for processing of driver’s license in its Extension Office in Cainta, Rizal.

The program was launched earlier today at the Grab Driver Training Center in Marikina City. The ceremony was graced by DOLE Assistant Secretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay and PCUP-RPMD Chief Elsie Aradanas. Senator Joel “Tesdaman” Villanueva also gave a special  video message for the beneficiaries of the program.

“Nais po nating pasalamatan ang Grab sa ambag po ninyo sa kabuhayan ng maraming Pilipino, lalo na po sa panahon ng krisis at pandemya kung saan nagpatuloy ang daloy ng goods and services at upang makapag-work from home ang ating mga manggagawa (We would like to thank Grab for their contributions in the livelihood of many Filipinos, especially in this time of crisis and pandemic, with the continuous delivery of goods and services so that our workers can work from home). As Grab Drivers, you braved the roads during the pandemic so that other Filipinos could safely stay at home,” Sen. Villanueva said.

All beneficiaries will also receive a Livelihood Booster Kit which includes end-to-end onboarding assistance in securing documentary requirements such as vehicle registration, drug testing, NBI Clearance, and proof of vaccination; discounts on fuel and other merchandise and exclusive promos and bank financing with partner dealership; emergency support for the driver- and rider-partners and their dependents; and skills development through training programs conducted by GrabAcademy in partnership with Microsoft and TESDA.

“Education plays a vital role in our labor and economic competitiveness, however, many Filipinos are unable to complete their education due to financial hardships and personal circumstances,” Grab Philippines Country Head Grace Vera Cruz stated. “Through the years, Grab Philippines has provided countless driver- and delivery-partners access to meaningful livelihood opportunities — allowing them to finish their studies while supporting their families from their earnings on the platform. Daan ng Natigil is one of the many expressions of our long-standing commitment to making every Filipino’s life better through our platform, and we look forward to helping more Filipinos complete their education and live a better and more prosperous life with the help of our platform.”

Photos by Hazel Nicole Carreon

Also read: Grab PH launches road safety training program for drivers and delivery partners