Tesda unveils poverty, livelihood projects in 17 Negocc barangays
THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in collaboration with the office of Negros Occidental Fifth District Rep. Emilio Yulo III, local government units (LGUS) of Isabela, La Castellana, Binalbagan and Moises Padilla, and national government agencies, recently launched the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) projects in 17 insurgency-cleared barangays in the province.
The agency recently unveiled four PRLEC projects to be rolled out in four localities.
These are the “Halong, Bangon, Sulong para sa Kauswagan! Vamos Isabela” in Isabela; “Hugpong Birada Moises Padilla Sustainable Livelihood Agenda for Peace and Progress of Macagahay, Quintin Remo, Guinpana-an and Montilla” in Moises Padilla; “Programang Panghanapbuhay, Uswag-bangon Banwang Panganay” in Binalbagan; and “Arangka La Castellana Sustainable Livelihood Program para sa Malinong, Malig-on kag Mainuswagon nga Panghimanwa” in La Castellana.
These projects aim to provide skills training and other livelihood intervention programs to a total of 165 individuals belonging to marginalized and vulnerable sectors of the 17 insurgency –free villages.
Of the 165 individuals, 25 are from Binalbagan, 40 from Isabela, 40 from La Castellana and 60 from Moises Padilla.
Tesda-negros Occidental Acting Provincial Director Carlito Quintano said they are the initial beneficiaries of the agency’s skills training programs.
The skills training for Isabela and La Castellana include raising organic hogs and organic small ruminants.
For Moises Padilla, the Tesda will be conducting training on raising organic hogs, raise organic small ruminants, and preparing and cooking hot meals.
In Binalbagan, meanwhile, a training for Plumbing NC I will be conducted.
“The training will be funded under the agency’s Special Training for Employment Program (Step) which benefits included free training cost, free assessment, internet allowance, one-year accident insurance, health/ personal protective equipment allowance, starter tool kits, and training support fund/allowance of 160 per day,” Quintano added.
Yulo, in a message, expressed gratitude to the Tesda and other government agencies under PRLEC for the project, as he assured support and commitment to the goal of the PRLEC to end poverty.
“With development comes progress and with progress comes peace. If people have enough jobs and resources for their daily needs, we can solve and end the so-called problem -- politics of the stomach. I am in solidarity with the goal of the project,” he added.
During the program, Yulo, Board Member Anton Oceño, Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla along with PRLEC member-agencies and other local officials affirmed their support for the project by signing on the pledge of support and cooperation.
The villages of Bi-ao in Binalbagan; Sebucawan, Cabcab, Libas, Makilignit, Mansablay, Riverside, San Augustin and Sikatuna in Isabela; Puso, Cabacungan, Manghanoy, and Biak na Bato in La Castellana; and Quintin Remo, Macagahay, Montilla and Guinpana-an in Moises Padilla are among the 96 barangays in the Province of Negros Occidental cleared of the influence of the Community Party of the Philippines-npa (CCP-NPA) according to the Department of Interior and Local Government.