Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, together with Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, TESDA National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Director Angelina Carreon, TESDA Manila Acting District Director Paul John Ramos, and other city government officials during the turnover of livelihood tool kits from TESDA for the city's livelihood programs. (Photo from Manila PIO)

A total of P463,343 worth of tool kits were donated by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to the Manila City Government last Jan. 26 to help boost the city's livelihood initiatives aimed at equipping Manileños with the proper tools and knowledge to help them earn a living.

Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso led the turnover event together with Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, TESDA National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Director Angelina Carreon, and TESDA Manila Acting District Director Paul John Ramos.

According to Domagoso, the office donated 50 sets of massage tool kits, 25 sets for bread making, 25 sets for body massage, 50 sets for pastry making, 25 sets for the preparation of cold meals, and 24 sets for the preparation of hot meals. These tool kits have the potential to serve between 5,000 and 7,000 learners. 

​"Every toolkit and piece of training equipment turned over today is in line with the city’s goal to continue to invest in and address basic needs. We are teaching them skills so they can use them in the real world and make a living," Domagoso said.

He expressed his gratitude to the national government for the donations, stressing that these will greatly help Manileños in finding jobs or in building their own businesses using the knowledge they obtained from the Universidad de Manila and Manila Manpower Development Center.

"Lubos po ang pasasalamat natin sa TESDA sa mga donasyong ito na tiyak ay makakatuwang natin para sa training ng ating mga mag-aaral. Katulad ng ating nakita at napag-aralan sa Singapore ay magbubuti pa po tayo upang mapalakas ang ganitong training sa ating mamamayan (We are very grateful to TESDA for these donations, which will definitely help us in the training of our students. Just as we have seen and learned in Singapore, we will do better to strengthen this kind of training for our people)," the mayor noted.

"Sa pagtutulungan ng local government at national government ay mas marami tayong mga programang magagawa para sa taumbayan (With the cooperation of the local government and national government, we can implement more programs for the people)," he stressed.

For her part, Vice Mayor Chi underscored the city government's proactive role in securing and delivering national government support by providing specialized kits for baking, pastry making, and beauty services. 

"I've been a staunch supporter and advocate of livelihood training because I believe that the true answer to poverty is teaching Manileños to stand on their own two feet. Together with my mayor, we are grateful that TESDA is fully supporting the City of Manila," Atienza said.

She explained all support and equipment acquired from the national government will be funneled directly to the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) under OIC Jay Dela Fuente and UDM President Dr. Maria Felma Carlos-Tria to ensure that the benefits are immediately delivered to the city's 350 current enrollees and future trainees.

"This will open opportunities for proper skills training that gives our youth the capacity to gain knowledge and build their own livelihoods," Dela Fuente said.