MANILA -- Over half of the 5,015 internally displaced people (IDP) of Marawi, who were given free training by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), will now help rebuild the war-torn city, a TESDA executive told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday.
Of the total graduates, 2,360 finished construction-related courses or technical vocational education training (TVET). These graduates will help in Marawi City's rehabilitation efforts, according to TESDA.
In May 2017, the terrorist Maute Group brought violence to Marawi City, killing innocent people, causing fears, burning houses and establishments. The war with military troops ended in October 2017.
"We have 5,015 graduates who had their training from July 2017 to May 2018. There were two training modalities -- community-based and institution-based," TESDA-10 Regional Director Tarhata Mapandi told the PNA.
These graduates were those who went to nearby towns during the siege.
"They were the IDPs in Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Iligan. There were also those who went to Saguiran, and those who went back to Marawi City after the siege. We were also able to provide training in barangays there," Mapandi added.
The Marawi IDPs were equipped with knowledge and skills through construction-related courses. Among these were Carpentry, Electrical Installation and Maintenance National Certification (NC) ll, Masonry NC I, Multiple Plumbing, Pipefitting, Tile Setting, Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC l, Heavy Equipment Operator NC ll, Plaster Concrete or Masonry Surface, Technical Drafting, and Electrical Installation & Maintenance NC ll.
The other graduates took courses related to other sectors, such as tourism, electronics, agriculture and fishery, health, garments, and social and community development services.
Under TESDA Secretary Guiling Mamondiong's 17-Point Agenda, the IDPs are among those prioritized in the provision of skills training.
Mamondiong earlier noted that providing the IDPs with the necessary training could help them with their livelihood and help them get back to normalcy.
TESDA will continue helping Marawi IDPs, Mapandi said. (PNA)
