BUTUAN CITY, January 31 – A total of 42 individuals, majority of whom are special clients of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) finish Farmer Field School (FFS) in produce organic vegetable.

Composed of eight personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP); eight Persons Who Used Drugs (PWUDs); 12 Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terrorismo (KKDAT); eight members of Women’s Organization, and six from the different youth organizations, the trainees received training certificates from TESDA-Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Rey M. Cueva during the Closing Ceremony held Thursday at Madjos Farm, Sitio Tagulahi, Brgy. Antongalon, this city.

The training which started in November 11, 2020 is an innovative, participatory and interactive learning approach that emphasizes problem solving and discovery based learning.

In his speech, Dir. Cueva said that TESDA, through the provincial office is always willing to provide skills and livelihood trainings to all sectors in the society as this will pave the way to transform the lives of every individual.

He also stressed that with the pandemic that is currently experienced worldwide, there is a need to strengthen the agriculture sector to ensure that there are enough agricultural products to feed the people. “This is also the mandate of TESDa thru our Director-General – Sec. Isidro S. Lapeña to promote Green TVET in the country… and by Green TVET, we mean agriculture,” he said.

Also, PCol Sammy Fuentes, Butuan City Police Director said that this is a joint undertaking of the Philippine National Police, City Government of Butuan and TESDA dubbed as Project KALAMBUAN (KAhibalo LAMdag sa Buhing Ugma Alang sa Nagkahi-usang Kabatan-onan). “Project KALAMBUAN is replicating the FFS in Barangay Bugsukan and Barangay Tagkiling in Butan City,” he added.

Further, the City Agriculture Office is grateful to the organizers of the project as it promotes organic farming in the city.

FFS aims to build farmers’ capacity to analyze their production systems, identify problems, test possible solutions, and eventually encourage the participants to adopt the practices most suitable to their farming systems. It can also provide an opportunity for farmers to practice and test/evaluate sustainable land use technologies, and introduce new technologies through comparing their conventional technologies developed with their own tradition and culture.

BUTUAN CITY (January 31) – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Specialista Desk located at the third floor of Robinsons Place-Butuan has been back to its normal operations to serve the public. ``

This, after it was forced to open only twice a week last year to public due to COVID-19.

TESDA-Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Rey M. Cueva said that with Butuan City’s status under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), there is a need for the operations in Robinsons Place-Butuan to slowly go back to normal.

“… But because we are still experiencing pandemic, the Specialista Desk will be opened three times a week, during Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,” Director Cueva said.

The Specialista Desk will serve as a venue for mall-goers to inquire programs and services of TESDA such as: Directory of TESDA Training Institutions (TTIs) and Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs) with Programs under Unified TVET Program Registration and Accreditation System (UTPRAS).

The public may also ask for forms and application requirements for a smooth transaction in applying for the programs. Lastly, the desk will be helping the National Certificate holders for the renewal and application for the loss of certificate, among others.

Upon visiting the desk, the public will be given a brochure where they can choose which institutions and programs they will be applying with all the information stated.

The desk is manned by TESDA personnel who will provide services during office hours. Anyone can come and visit the TESDA Specialista Desk or may call at (085) 300-3037

BUTUAN CITY (January 31) – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Agusan del Norte vowed to provide trainings to some 453 Former Rebels (FRs) who have recently returned to the fold of the government.

In a report from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Caraga, five (5) members of Milisya ng Bayan (MB) and 448 CNT mass supporters under the existing Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) in Barangay Casiklan, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte have recently withdrawn their support to the communist movement and pledged allegiance to the government.

During the ceremony spearheaded by the 23^rd Infantry “Masigasig” Battalion (23IB), Philippine Army under the leadership of LtCol Julius Cesar Paulo, TESDA-Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Rey M. Cueva said that TESDA should give them interventions and support particularly in honing their technical skills for increased productivity.

“With this huge count of FRs, we should help them and give them proper interventions, because if not, there is a possibility that they will return to where they came and support the NPA,” he said.

Dir. Cueva added that community-based trainings in Organic Agriculture Production, Driving, Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Dressmaking, among others will surely contribute to uplift the economic condition of the community.

Meanwhile, Agusan del Norte Provincial Administrator Jerry Joey S. Laurito, who represented Governor Dale B. Corvera, recognized the bravery and enjoined the residents to cut or end their ties from the terrorist movement and embrace new lives with the government.

“With the help of TESDA who works with the 23IB and the LGU, we will develop livelihood project in your barangay, especially agricultural production in order for you to have sustainable livelihood and help the government in recovering the status of our economic system. Kay kung walay kalinaw, walay kalambuan (If there’s no peace, there will be no progress),” he added.

Laurito likewise assured that the government is always ready to find solutions to the problems of barangays through the provisions