CAMP ROMUALDO RUBI, BANCASI, Butuan City – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in collaboration with the city government of Gingoog and the Army 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion (23rd IB), distributed starter toolkits to 150 Special Training and Employment Program (STEP) scholars at the Barangay 18-A Gym in Gingoog City.
The 150 STEP scholars and beneficiaries of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC Poverty Reduction, Livelihood, and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) program in Gingoog City came from three organized Peoples Organization (POs) by the 23rd IB.
These three associations were Barangay Kalipay Naghiusang Kababainhang Mananahi sa Kalipay, Barangay Kamanikan Home Based Bakers Association, and Barangay Malinao Datu Makasilang Small Seamstress Association.
The STEP scholars completed skills training on Tailoring and Dress Making, Small Engine Servicing, and Bread and Pastry Making, on Tuesday, July 18.
These programs aim to develop self-reliance, resilience, productive, and sustainable communities through harmonized and culturally responsive development programs, the 23rd IB-Civil Military Operations (CMO) said.
It shows the strong partnership among agencies in line with Executive Order 70 which commanded all government agencies to engage in convergence work meant to pool together existing services to communities selected to be recipients of integrated interventions to bring genuine lasting peace to address insurgency as perennial problem.