Gang members avail of free ‘gangnam’ skills training

Gang members avail of free ‘gangnam’ skills training Regional News

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY - More than 40 individuals who are former members of street gangs have benefitted from the free training courses granted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga under the project “Gangnam” (NagkahiusAMi) or “gang na mabuti” of the Butuan City Police Station (BCPO).

Twenty-four of them who were previously involved in an all-out brawl and riots have already completed the training and were issued with the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAC) National Certificate (NC) I at II after passing the assessment for the first batch.

Another group of 21 adolescents who composed the second batch are also currently capacitating themselves with the skills in an ongoing TESDA training. January 25-31, 2020 Caraga Infocus

Some have also availed of the automotive servicing and driving courses as additional skills and option in seeking a job.

According to Colonel Canilo Fuentes, city director of the BCPO, the project Gangnam was penned to address the problems on criminality and gang violence in the communities.

“This is one of the best practices of the BCPO in solving the problem on gangsterism. We invited and talked to the gang leaders and members and offered the opportunities to save them from being hooked to gang-related activities. They were honed with the skills in welding for free through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between our office, the BCPO, and TESDA,” said Col. Fuentes.

Jason Cabal, who started to join the gang in his 20’s, was filled with gratitude for the significant intervention of the BCPO that has helped a lot in his lifestyle transformation.

“I’m very glad and thankful for this initiative of the PNP, especially the BCPO, because it has truly awakened me to quit from involving in gang culture. Now, I am more determined to do my job well to support my family,” emphasized Cabal.

Aside from receiving a regular net pay as an inventory clerk after undergoing the free trainings, Hanney Lou Quiamjot is now also earning an extra income from doing welding works.

Regional News “Through the project Gangnam, I was guided to change my life for good. Now, I will work hard to achieve my dreams and to convince all other gang members to leave their group and start a more meaningful life,” said Quiamjot.

Col. Fuentes said the project Gangnam is a proactive approach undertaken by their office and partner stakeholders to keep the gang members away from commission of crimes and to provide them guidance in their endeavor of transforming into law-abiding citizens.

Per record of the BCPO, there are 22 gangs and more or less 262 profiled members which means that there are hundreds more that have yet to be profiled on the basis that these profiles were gathered through the members being detained and arrested.

Accordingly, the members are composed of out-of-school youth, hardened law offenders, and the most alarming are the minor members who were involved in the commission of crimes.

It can be recalled that the project Gangnam was a brainchild of then city director PSSupt Albert G. Magno in which a Gangnam core group was created and conducted an immersion activity to engage with the gang members.

Other partner stakeholders have also continues pouring out their support, making the projects sustain its impact. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)