Tesda, Social Welfare Dept. tie-up for sustainable livelihood initiative

By Roderick L. Abad

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), commit to provide skills training, livelihood courses and complementary support-program services that will help elevate the socioeconomic status of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and non-4Ps beneficiaries.

Director-General Danilo P. Cruz of Tesda and DSWD chief Rexlon Gatchalian are leading this collaborative effort, as they recently executed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for their agencies to engage in a sustainable livelihood program for beneficiaries, particularly those from the marginalized sector.

Tesda will allot scholarship slots for beneficiaries, then hold skills training and assessment for identified 4Ps and non-4Ps recipients.

DSWD, on the other hand, will evaluate the beneficiaries’ needed skills, then assess and refer them for skills training and microenterprise development.

Cruz said that Tesda is working with the DSWD, other state agencies and the private sector in helping raise the standard of living of Filipinos, especially the marginalized ones, by extending to them appropriate skills train -