INSURGENCY-CLEARED VILLAGE. E.B. Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon (left) and officials of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) visit an area in Barangay Canlusong during the launch of the “Tulong-tulong para sa Pag-asenso ng Barangay Canlusong” program on July 14, 2021. Some 25 village residents are beneficiaries of the training for Organic Agriculture Production NC II with the TESDA. (Photo courtesy of TESDA-Negros Occidental)
BACOLOD CITY – A total of 75 residents of four New People's Army (NPA)-cleared villages in the northern part of Negros Occidental have availed of skills training and other livelihood intervention programs under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) this July.
A report as of Thursday showed that on July 21, some 25 individuals from Barangays Estado and Gawahon in Victorias City started the Electrical Installation and Maintenance National Certificate (NC) II training while the same number of residents of Barangay Canlusong, the farthest village of E.B. Magalona town, began the training for Organic Agriculture Production (OAP) NC II on July 20.
In Cadiz City, another 25 individuals from Barangay Caduha-an, all agrarian reform beneficiaries, are also attending the training on OAP NC II until August 2.
These initiatives are being implemented by the TESDA, in collaboration with the concerned local government units and other national government agencies, as projects of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
In a statement, TESDA-Western Visayas regional director Jerry Tizon said the government is committed to provide responsive measures to uplift and transform the lives of the poor and underserved communities.
“The government will never turn its back on you. No matter where you are or how difficult it is to reach your area, we will bring the training to you,” he said.
TESDA-Negros Occidental acting provincial director Romelia Nuezca said the training sessions are funded under the agency’s Training for Work Scholarship Program.
The scholar-trainees receive benefits that include free training cost, free assessment, internet allowance, one-year accident insurance, health/personal protective equipment allowance, and training support fund/allowance of PHP160 per day.
Third District Rep. Francisco Benitez, whose jurisdiction includes Victorias City and E.B. Magalona, thanked the TESDA for bringing its skills training program to the three villages in his congressional district.
“This program is a big help to the residents and will enable them to develop the skills to gain employment or start and sustain a small business,” he added.
Benitez commended the TESDA and other member agencies of the NTF-ELCAC for working to address the root causes of armed conflict in the affected communities.
E.B. Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon said those who will pass the competency assessment for OAP NC II will receive an additional training support fund from the municipal government.
The villages of Estado, Gawahon, Canlusong, and Caduha-an are among the 26 barangays in Negros Occidental cleared of the influence of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA (CCP-NPA), and listed as recipients of the Local Government Support Fund-Support to Barangay Development Program under the NTF-ELCAC.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Philippines. (PNA)
