Mountain Province task force identifies 13 pilot barangays for consultation, services

BONTOC, Mountain Province—The provincial Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Clusters (PRLEC) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has been reaching more clients in 13 barangays to implement pilot convergence projects here.

“During our organizational meeting, the cluster agreed that we will be conducting consultations to 13 barangays in Bauko, Besao, Bontoc, Sagada to identify the skills training that our clients need. The cluster is headed by TESDA ,” said Eric Ueda, Provincial Director of TESDA Mountain Province.

PD Ueda said that the cluster continues to look forward to new action plans to promote lasting and sustainable peace in arm-conflicted communities in Mountain Province.

“We are aiming to capacitate as many special clients as possible, as part of our mandate as an agency, as well as in support to the national endeavor to promote sustainable and inclusive peace,” he said.

He reiterated that members of the cluster will prepare their own advocacy and information materials for the consultation as their first phase.

“The second phase will be the delivery of services as identified during the consultations or visit,” he said.

Meanwhile, 11 personnel of Mountain Province Police Provincial Office (MPPPO) have received free skills training on Haircutting under Community Based Training (CBT).

PD Ueda said it is a joint project of TESDA Mountain Province, MPPO and Arete Technological Training Center.

The training aims to augment the basic delivery of wellness during the scheduled barangay consultations by the task force.

The trained police officers will be deployed as barbers during barangay consultations.

He also said that after a series of consultation the identified skills training needs of the communities were as follows: Food Processing, Furniture and Table Making, Pedicure and Manicure, Haircutting, and Cake/Bread Making. (PMTG/TESDA-CAR)