581 TRAINEES IN AGUSAN NORTE PRLEC PRIORITY VILLAGES FINISH SKILLS TRAINING

A total of 581 graduates from Sitios Hinandayan, Mimbahandi and Salaysayon, all of Barangay Camagong, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte have finished skills training and received Certificate of Training Completion from Sec. Isidro S. Lapeña of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). During the graduation rites held recently in Sitio | April 10-16, 2021

By Robert E. Roperos

Mimbahandi mini-gym, Sec. Lapeña emphasized that the skills obtained by the graduates is a wealth that cannot be taken away from them. “You can guarantee that the knowledge you obtained from the trainings will be yours forever… Wherever you will go, you will always bring with you the skills you have now,” Lapeña said in Tagalog dialect. Sec. Lapeña also said that the government has high hopes that this will serve as a way to transform the lives of every resident in Brgy. Camagong. “Thus, we hope that you will make use of the new skills that you have to transform not only your lives but as well as the lives of the people here in your community,” he said.

The official also committed to find a way so that the Caraga INFOCUS

graduates can make use of what they have learned in the training. “If we can provide toolkits for our graduates so that they can immediately apply what they have learned, then we will do it,” addressing the directive to TESDA-Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Rey M. Cueva.

Specifically, Lapeña stressed that toolkits in prepare bakery production must be provided so that the community will already have its bakery, since there is a total of 67 graduates in the Prepare Bakery Products. “In this way, they will no longer go to Nasipit proper just to buy bread and pastry products,” he said. Since the mode of transportation in the three sitios are motorcycle, the 67 graduates in Small Engine Repair and Maintenance will be given a livelihood opportunity by means of putting up a repair and maintenance shop. “Aside from providing livelihood opportunity to these graduates, the people of Brgy. Camagong can avail of its services without going to Nasipit proper,” Caraga INFOCUS Lapeña added. In Sitio Salaysayon, Sec. Lapeña said there is a need for the local residents to experience electricity. In this case, he said that the 29 graduates in Basic Solar Power Installation will be given an opportunity to apply what they have learned so that solar electric will be installed in the area. Lapeña likewise informed those in attendance that TESDA will also train the community in agri-crop production to ensure that there will be food in the table of each family. “The Department of Agriculture through their attached agencies like the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) will assist us in providing you with the skills needed,” he said. The official is here in the region to attend series of TVET-related activities as well as to monitor the program and project implementation of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) for which TESDA is the lead agency and Sec. Lapeña is the national chairman.

At the Regional level, TESDA-Caraga Regional Director Tarhata S. Mapandi, CESO III is handson in the implementation of Priority Barangay Development Program through Sustainable Enterprise Development focusing on Agriculture and its added value chain interventions under EO 70 Framework. (TESDA Caraga/PIA-Agusan del Norte)