Rafael Abrogar II, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Region 12 director. (PNA GenSan file photo)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – At least 45 rebel returnees in South Cotabato province will undergo technical-vocational (tech-voc) training through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Rafael Abrogar II, TESDA-Region 12 director, said Thursday they are processing the enrolment of the former rebels into their training programs in partnership with various government agencies.
Abrogar said the move, which would give the returnees with better livelihood opportunities, was in support of the national government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
The beneficiaries are all indigenous peoples (IP) and former members of the NPA’s militia organization who surrendered early this month in Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato, he said.
Abrogar said the former rebels will be trained under the agency's IP Empowered as Agripreneurs towards a Collective End (IPEACE), which is among the priority programs of TESDA Director General Secretary Isidro Lapeña.
“This is centered on providing appropriate (tech-voc training) programs for the IPs, especially on agriculture,” Abrogar said.
He said the tech-voc training will complement the financial and livelihood assistance provided to former NPA members by the local governments of South Cotabato and Lake Sebu and other government agencies.
Early this year, some 25 former NPA rebels from Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu graduated and received national certificates (NC) on Electrical Installation and Maintenance-NC II. (PNA)
