TESDA to give free skills training to Itogon landslide survivors

Post date: Oct 6, 2018 1:08:37 PM

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority – Cordillera Administrative Region (TESDA-CAR) has started to give assistance to victims of the recent landslide tragedy in Itogon, Benguet due to rains brought about by typhoon Ompong last Sept. 15.

Officials of TESDA-CAR say that they have transported donations such as food, clothes and medicines to evacuation and skills training centers in the area.

A report by TESDA-CAR Acting Regional Director (ARD) Engr. Manuel B. Wong to TESDA Director General/Secretary Guiling A. Mamondiong indicates that 119 persons - 86 men and 33 women - have registered for free skills training.

The donations and assistance to survivors materialized after TESDA-CAR led by ARD Wong and Provincial Director David Bungallon of TESDA-Benguet met with the Quick Response Task Force under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-CAR) last Sept. 21.

TESDA-CAR immediately set up a registration desk at the Alejo Pacalso National High School where evacuees may register for skills training or retooling.

Wong and Bungallon also met with the Office of the Political Adviser under Secretary Francis Tolentino and other agencies last Sept. 22 to provide updates on the assistance program.

As a result of the registration and profiling, Wong says the training of the 119 evacuees for various qualifications will be divided into two batches.

The skills training program is done with the support of the local government unit (LGU) of Itogon.

The other registrants/victims who did not make it to the two batches will also be given scholarship programs at a later date.

Enrollees under various courses are Welding, 44 each; Driving, 33; Automotive, 26; Cooking/Cookery, 13; Housekeeping at Carpentry, 10; Beauty Care, 8; Baking/Bread and Pastry, 7; Manicure and Pedicure, 5 each; Slaughtering, Pastry Making, Massage Therapy, Masonry, Free Assessment (NCl/NC ll), Electrical Installation and Maintenance, 3 each; Machining, Caregiving, and Backhoe Operator, 2 each; and one each for Wheel Loader, Haircutting, Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Food Servicing, Electronic Servicing, Electronics, Culinary Arts, Computer System Servicing, Bookkeeping and Automotive Servicing and another individual for free assessment (NCl/NC ll).

Officials of the TESDA-CAR RO say that they might meet the task force on October 11 to step up the skills training program on welding, automotive, transport and construction.

The training program is set to be launched on Oct. 24, 2018. Participants will be given tool kits, daily allowance and free certification and assessment.

Wong reports that apart from the damaged service vehicle of TESDA-CAR which was hit by falling trees at the height of the typhoon, nothing was destroyed at CAR Regional Offices and TESDA Technology Institutions.

The death toll arising from typhoon “Ompong” has reached 78 while 33 persons were still missing due to a landslide at an abandoned mining site in Itogon, Benguet.