𝗦𝗘𝗖. 𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗥𝗢 𝗦. 𝗟𝗔𝗣𝗘Ñ𝗔 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗙 𝗭𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗬 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗘: 𝘈 𝘗𝘙𝘓𝘌𝘊 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘐𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦

𝗕𝗨𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗡 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬, 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬 - In line with the implementation of the Pilot Launch for NTF Baran gays in support to the Executive Order No. 70 “Institutionalizing the Whole-of-Nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, creating a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict,” TESDA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña as Chair of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) together with other member agencies successfully conducted the Ground Breaking of Zapanta Valley Enterprise Center at Sitio Zapanta Valley, Bangayan, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte on December 9, 2020.

The activity was also graced by TESDA Deputy Director General for TESD Operations - DDG Lina C. Sarmiento, Regional Director of TESDA NCR - Dir. Florencio F. Sunico, TESDA Pas-Mak District Director and Chief of Staff – Dir. Juliet O. Orozco, Regional Director of TESDA Caraga – Dir. Ashary A. Banto, TESDA Provincial Director of Agusan del Norte – Dir. Rey M. Cueva and other TESDA officials and personnel. Also present are the representatives from the Office of Hon. Dale B. Corvera, Provincial Governor of Agusan del Norte and Office of Hon. Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba, Congresswoman, 2nd District of Agusan del Norte.

Sec. Lapeña underscored during his message the agenda behind the EO70, which aimed to help the community to achieve long-lasting peace and development. He stressed that as far as skills training is concerned, the agency is always committed to provide trainings to the community as one of the sustainable government actions and solutions towards solving local communist conflicts.

“𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣, 𝙬𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙-𝙞𝙣-𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙… 𝙬𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧… 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧-𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝙍𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 (𝙋𝙍𝙇𝙀𝘾) 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪,” Sec. Lapeña added.

During the activity, Secretary Lapeña awarded training certificates to TESDA graduates after completing the different skills training - Buko Halo-halo (36 graduates); Perform Basic Haircutting (15 graduates); Perform Pedicure (26 graduates); Perform Manicure (26 graduates); Small Engine – Service Motorcycle (33 graduates); and Prepare Bakery Products (25 graduates).

Livelihood opportunities also await the graduates at the Zapanta Valley Enterprise Center which comprise the following: H abal-Habal Repair Shop, Spare Parts Store, and Vulcanizing Shop, Bakery and Refreshment Parlor, Barber Shop, Beauty Parlor, Gulayan Bagsakan Center and Display Center in partnership with AgusanUp. Moreover, Zapanta Valley also have Agri-Tourism Enterprise which showcased not just their produced but also the whole community as well. It includes Goat & Native chicken, Hog Raising, Demo Farm and Learning Site to address the Food Security, Restaurant, Swimming Pool, Fishpond, Busay, Vegetable Village, Abaca, Banana Production, and GOALayan Support Project.

The success of the program was a consolidated effort and partnership of TESDA with the Local Government Unit of Kitcharao under the leadership of their Municipal Mayor, Hon. Aristotle E. Montante and other PRLEC member agencies of Agusan del Norte who gave their commitment to support in the promotion of EO 70 for the implementation of livelihood and skills training programs though a ceremonial Signing of Pledge of Commitment.

Indeed, the convergence of the difference agencies truly creates a positive impact to community and it lightens the heavy task of the government in addressing the needs of people in the conflict areas in the country.

Furthermore, Secretary Lapeña is the first TESDA secretary to have visited the area which is formerly known as a war zone in the province.

TESDA Caraga will continue to serve the community in line with Sec. Lapena’s thrust on “TESDA Abot Lahat,” ensuring that the services will be more accessible through the training centers put up across Caraga -  to serve the community through quality TVET trainings, which will eventually provide employment.