The Technical Education and Skill Development Authority in the Cordillera Administrative Region (TESDA-CAR) awarded certification to 268 out of 279 Itogon miners enrolled in the skill training program provided by the agency.
These small-scale miners were displaced and forced to stop their mining activities after a landslide hit Itogon, Benguet’s mining area during Typhoon Ompong’s onslaught in the province.
Engr. Manuel Wong, TESDA-CAR officer-in-charge (OIC) said the training and scholarships were immediately offered to the miners to present them with alternative livelihood options after the calamity struck their area September 15 last year.
“We made sure that TESDA contrived a quick response and that we conducted skills training like masonry, carpentry, and customer relations,” Wong said in a story by the Philippine News Agency.
A total of 300 slots were opened for initial enrollees of TESDA’s Bangon Itogon Program which is a P 3-million scholarship program providing free training to a miner or a family member who can use the skill to get employed and bring income to their family,
The P 3 million allocated fund for the scholarship program was also used in financing the materials needed by the students and for providing a training allowance of P 160 daily.
“We provided them allowance to at least help them get through day by day during their training,” Wong said.
Wong added that his agency made sure to deliver a quick response to conduct skills trainings such as masonry, carpentry, and customer relations.
Shield Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) National Certificate (NC) l, Masonry NC ll, Carpentry NC ll, Enterprise Information Management (EIM) NC ll, and Basic Customer Services are among the skills offered by TESDA to the enrollees to their program.
The TESDA-CAR OIC assured that the government is continuously supporting the victims of the landslide even giving priority to Itogon residents when it comes to availing scholarship programs.
