READY FOR TRAINING. At least 28 drug surrenderers in Abra who recently completed their community-based drug rehabilitation program will receive free skills training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority under its program ‘Skills Training for Special Clients’ to facilitate their socio-economic re-integration in the community. The initial skills to be provided include driving, carpentry, electrical installation and maintenance, and masonry. (PNA photo courtesy of TESDA)
BAGUIO CITY – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Abra province is ready to provide skills training to the 28 new completers of the community drug rehabilitation program, an official said on Thursday.
TESDA-Abra acting provincial director Nenita Corro said the completers would be trained on Driving NC (National Certification) II, Carpentry NC II, Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II, and Masonry NC II.
They will also be provided with starter kits that they can use in case they want to start a home industry or the economic activity after completion of the training.
Corro said the training is a regular program of the TESDA provided to the special clients under the program “Skills Training for Special Clients.”
“Special clients” is a collective term for special sectors being assisted by the TESDA.
Among those included in the classification are the indigenous peoples and indigenous cultural communities, calamity-affected communities, inmates and their dependents, persons with disability, family enterprises, rebel returnees, dependents of soldiers or military personnel who are killed-in-action or wounded-in-action, displaced women and senior citizens.
Corro said the training will start as soon as the clearance that indicates that the surrenderers have completed the requirement of the community drug rehabilitation program is released.
Of the 28 drug surrenderers, 12 are from capital town Bangued, and 16 are from San Juan, Abra.
Abra had 1,280 drug surrenderers who came forward to avail of the government’s assistance when President Rodrigo Duterte announced the campaign against illegal drugs at the start of his term.
Since then, several have already completed the continuing drug rehabilitation program conducted individually or jointly by the government, church-based groups, and non-government organizations.
"Skills development and livelihood projects would help in the drug surrenderers’ socio-economic re-integration into the society," Corro said.
She said their entitlement later on to a national certificate (NC) upon completion of the training and passing the assessment will make them eligible for a job locally and even abroad.
She said the government agency will mobilize TESDA Technology Institutions (TTIs) to facilitate competency assessments and skills training of the beneficiaries. (PNA)
