The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has launched the Project Wage-Employment and Entrepreneurial Skills Training (Project WEST).
TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña, together with Deputy Director General for TESD Operations Lina Sarmiento and other TESDA officials on April 19 visited the Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan for the launching of the project.
In a statement, Lapeña said that the launching of the project is in line with the agency’s guiding principle “TESDA Abot Lahat” wherein the agency goes to far-flung areas to provide skills training and livelihood interventions.
“Our kababayans in Pag-asa Island can now expect more services from the government, particularly TESDA. We are here to provide skills training which the residents can use to gain employment and earn a living,” Lapeña said.
“I also thank the residents of Pag-asa Island for welcoming TESDA. This engagement is for the betterment of our community and our kababayans through technical education and skills development programs,” he added.
Initial offerings of the Project WEST are trainings on Assembly of Solar Night Light and Post Lamp and Competencies on Food Processing (Sugar Concentration and Salting and Curing).
The community-based trainings on these courses have started, according to TESDA-Palawan. It added that 44 trainees on Assembly of Solar Night Light and Post Lamp, and 28 beneficiaries on Sugar Concentration, and Salting and Curing were trained.
Meanwhile, according to Sarmiento, TESDA initially provided a trainer on Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II and Photovoltaic Systems Installation NC II, and two trainers on Food Processing NC II.
She added that the agency is also set to conduct Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) to the residents of Pag-asa Island. The STEP is a community-based training program that seeks to address the specific skills needs of the communities and promote employment, through entrepreneurial, self-employment, and service-oriented activities