LIVELIHOOD KITS. Government officials and the recipients of the Special Training for Employment Program of the Technical Education and Skills Authority in Rosales town, Pangasinan pose for a photo on Monday (March 13, 2023). The beneficiaries received individual livelihood starter kits. (Photo by Hilda Austria)
ROSALES, Pangasinan – Some 233 residents of the fifth and sixth districts of Pangasinan received livelihood starter kits from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on Monday after undergoing training for 10 to 20 days.
In an interview, TESDA Ilocos Regional Director Vincent Cifra said the beneficiaries were given PHP160 daily allowance within the course period under the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP).
“May magagamit na sila after the training (They now have the equipment to use after the training),” he said.
The courses given were Automotive Servicing NCI, Bread Making Leading to BPP NCII, Cookery NCII, Dressmaking NCII, Electrical Installation and Maintenance NCII, Raise Organic Small Ruminants Leading to OAP NCII, Service Underchassis Components Leading to AS NCII, Cake Making NCII, and Pastry Making NCII.
“We will be monitoring the livelihood starters given to them in partnership with the local government units and we hope they would use it to make their lives better,” Cifra added.
Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, who also attended the distribution of the kits, asked the beneficiaries to make use of the training and kits to benefit their lives and their localities.
“Sana ay magamit ng tama ang mga kasanayan. Unahin na makapaglingkod sa lalawigan, unahin bigyan serbisyo ang sariling munisipyo (We hope that you will use your training well. Prioritize serving your province, prioritize serving your locality),” he said.
Anthony Inocencio, 25, a resident of this town and one of the beneficiaries, said he will be using his acquired training and the starter kit to repair cars.
STEP is a community-based training program that seeks to address the specific skill needs of the communities and promote employment, through entrepreneurial, self-employment, and service-oriented activities.
TESDA offers various skills training even to residents in far-flung villages where the participants are given a chance to start their businesses or learn new skills for alternative livelihood. (PNA)
