The train industry is moving forward indeed.
In attempt to change the face of a male-dominated profession, Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) introduced Kathleen Dela Paz, it’s first ever female train driver.
Dela Paz will be driving the LRT-1, the first metro line of the Manila Light Rail Transit System running across a 19.6 km elevated route.
LRMC is the private concessionaire of LRT-1.
“LRMC is very proud to hire its first lady driver, demonstrating our company’s belief that skills and competence are not gender-specific,” said LRMC Operations Director Rodrigo Bulario in a GMA report by Ted Cordero.
The 26-year-old graduate of hotel and restaurant management at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila started driving trains in early Aug, after completing a 40-day training course.
“Ms. Dela Paz has shown prowess, customer-orientation, and willingness to learn that dovetails with LRMC’s customer-focused philosophy,” Bulari added.
How to be a train driver in the Philippines?
Along with 29 other train drivers hired by LRMC under the company’s Project Arangkada, Dela Paz received lessons on safety communication, incident/accident management, fault reporting, basic train driving and intervention, and hauling procedures.
Dela Paz guaranteed that she could do the job as well as her male colleagues.
“‘Wag naman sila matakot kasi nag-training naman kami. Kaya alam naman namin kung paano gagawin ‘yung trabaho namin,” Dela Paz said when asked for a message for passengers who might be uncomfortable of having a female train driver.
(Don’t be afraid because we went through training. We know how to do our job)
LRMC also hired 105 station tellers and 25 station supervisors.
