TESDA trains more displaced miners, out of school youth in Ampucao, Itogon

LOAKAN, Baguio City-- Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in the Cordillera Administrative Region (TESDA-CAR) regional training center is currently providing Shield Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) National Certificate (NC) l training to out of school youth and displaced miners in Ampucao, Itogon.

“The training started last May 6 and will last until first week of June. After that they will be given certificate of training. They will also be assessed and certified after that,” said Belmar Angoling , supervising TESD Specialist of Regional Training Center (RTC).

“This is a collaborative work between TESDA and Philex Mining Corporation,” he added.

He said that the Community Based Training (CBT) will bring the government's programs and services closer to the victims of Typhoon Ompong.

He said that currently there are 25 individuals undergoing community based training.

“We are encouraging the locals to avail the Free Technical and Vocational Education and Training program especially small scale miners who were forced to stop their mining activities,” he said.

Adding, “We will bring the government's services closer to the victims. This is to streamline government programs and services in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to come up with a short term plan leading to long and sustainable livelihood program for the victims,” he said.

It can be recalled that various government agencies in the region worked hand in hand to bring the government's services closer to the victims of typhoon Ompong.

“After the training, they will be assessed and certified if they pass assessment, they can already utilize the skills to seek employment after training,” he said.

Meanwhile TESDA acting regional director Engr. Manuel B. Wong disclosed that under TESDA's Bangon Itogon program, 300 training slots were opened free of charge.

A total of which 279 individuals availed of the scholarship, 268 of them graduated and got their certification.

He said that TESDA allocated a PHP3-million fund for the scholarship which was used to finance the materials needed by the students and a provision for PHP160 a day training allowance.

Initially the skills offered by TESDA to the displaced miners were SMAW National Certificate (NC) l, Masonry NC ll, Carpentry NC ll, Enterprise Information Management (EIM) NC ll, and Basic Customer Services.