Twenty-five scholars of Automotive Servicing NC I, through the Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA), from barangays Lucbuban and Sorioan in Salcedo, Ilocos Sur received free starter kits on Friday.
Through the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), funded by the office of Ilocos Sur Second District Representative Kristine Singson, each scholar received starter kits such as feeler gauge, combination wrench, socket wrench, and screw driver set in a ceremony held at Provincial Training Center in Tablac, Candon City.
The scholars can use these tools to practice what they have learned and start their own livelihood, said TESDA Ilocos Sur Provincial Director Socorro Galanto.
Moreover, Rep. Singson announced the approval of P10.4-million worth of free skills training for 2021 under the STEP during the ceremony.
The skills training, a community-based training conducted from January to February this year, was implemented by the Southern Ilocos Technical Institute, Inc., a TESDA-accredited training school.
One of the recipients expressed his gratitude to the government for not just capacitating them but also for providing additional assistance for them to start earning.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa programa na hatid ng gobyerno, kay Cong. Kristine, sa TESDA Ilocos Sur na nakapagbigay ng kaalaman sa amin sa matagal na hiling. Lalo na ito ay ginawa doon sa brgy sa pamamagitan ng community-based training kaya habang nagtraining di rin namin naantala iyong ibang gawain sa bahay. Nagpapasalamat din kami sa mga kasundaluhan na todo suporta sa amin na ma-address iyong ibang issues namin sa aming barangay sa mga programs nila CSP kasama ang iba’t-ibang agencies,” one of the recipients said.
(We are thankful to all the programs of the government, through Cong. Kristine, the TESDA Ilocos Sur, for conducting the training that we have requested, especially that it was community-based, and our other work at home wasn’t hampered during the training. We are also thankful to the Philippine Army who always support us to address various issues raised in our barangay through the CSP in partnership with various agencies.)
Aside from starter toolkits, scholars were also given free training and assessment, and daily allowance.
The TESDA is the lead-agency of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) aimed at reducing poverty by providing various assistance such as livelihood and/or financial assistance, thus, to end local insurgency in the province.
