Twenty-five Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel in Batangas have started their skills training under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) work scholarship program.
In a statement on Sunday, April 11, TESDA said the Regional Training Center (RTC) Calabarzon is currently facilitating their training on Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) National Certificate (NC) II which formally started on April 5.
In July 2020, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña signed a Memorandum of Agreement with then PNP Chief Police General Archie Gamboa to empower the Indigenous People (IPs), former rebels, and other members of far-flung communities in the country.
The MOA states that TESDA and PNP will carry out education and training; trainers development; facilities and equipment-sharing for training and assessment; and competency assessment and certification under the existing rules and regulations of both agencies.
TESDA was tasked to upskill police officers who will be visiting remote communities to train residents on agriculture and other technical-vocational courses.
Implemented under the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), the training runs for 25 days under blended learning delivery mode as the country is still reeling from the effects of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, TESDA said.
After the training, the police personnel will be tapped as future community-based trainers.
Lapeña had said that TESDA does not have enough trainers and training schools to reach far-flung communities and having the PNP officers will help address the challenge.
Earlier in March, 25 PNP personnel in the National Capital Region (NCR) have also completed the Driving NC II Training Program of TESDA.