The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said on Monday, Jan. 3 that it has deployed its trainers for different qualifications to communities affected by Typhoon Odette
TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña said that this is part of the agency's “TESDAmayan” initiative, its banner program to assist communities affected by natural calamities and other disasters by providing skills training and relief packs to affected communities.
Lapeña led the send-off ceremony of 182 trainer-volunteers to augment the workforce and assist in the provision of technical services in calamity-stricken areas.
Lapeña said that the deployed trainers who will be conducting training-cum production on construction-related courses will certainly speed up the rehabilitation and repair of damaged houses. The agency said that it has allotted P195-M worth of scholarship funds for this purpose.
He added that the training on Solar Installations, and Food Production such as cookery and food processing, will also help residents for their everyday needs like food and electricity.
According to Lapeña, a total of 92 personnel from Luzon will be transported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to different destinations while 90 others from Region V, IX, XI, and XII will be traveling by land, sea, and thru commercial flights.
Initially, the said TESDA trainers will be deployed to several areas such as Palawan, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Surigao City, Siargao and Dinagat Islands.
Lapeña expressed his gratitude for the AFP for its transportation assistance and for the trainer-volunteers who will be deployed.
“This will not be like your ordinary training duties, but I am sure this will be among your significant, if not, the most significant assignment you will ever have as TESDA trainers,” Lapeña said, addressing the trainers.
“We will be doing a noble task which is to help our countrymen, as well as our fellow TESDAns in the regions affected by Typhoon Odette,” he added.
TESDA Regional and Provincial Offices continue to distribute relief packs to communities affected by the typhoon.