MANILA -- The local government unit (LGU) of Banaybanay in Davao Oriental has tapped the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to train its citizens for the construction of a 1,500-hectare eco-industrial park, an executive told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday.
"Banaybanay LGU wants its people to be the ones to work and benefit from the construction. We will train the applicants and provide them with various construction-related courses," TESDA-11 Regional Director Lorenzo Macapili said.
He continued that TESDA initially targets to train 100 trainers for this project, and might eventually add the trainers via the agency's "train the trainers" approach.
"The (Banaybanay) LGU said the project would need 5,000-10,000 construction workers. But that doesn't mean 5,000 'at one-shot'. Getting the workers would be gradual," Macapili clarified.
The regional director said the Banaybanay town government would like to hire its residents for this project, and it would also hire those from adjacent municipalities.
"So, if there are many IPs (indigenous people) in one municipality, for instance, they would also learn from us," Macapili said.
IPs are among TESDA's priority beneficiaries in its free training programs.
Meanwhile, Macapili said there is no specific date yet as to when this project would start. According to him, the LGU also did not specify the target date for the project's completion.
"What's clear for now is our partnership with the municipality of Banaybanay. The provincial government of Davao Oriental and the construction industry there are also our partners in this project," he added.
Macapili said the construction industry in Davao Oriental would provide on-site training for the applicants or trainees. (PNA)
