ZamboSur IPs receive toolkits from TESDA

PAGADIAN CITY, Oct 16 (PIA)— Members of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) can now start their own small businesses and livelihood after they received toolkits from the Technical Education, Skills and Development Authority (TESDA-9) in simple ceremony held at Maguindanao Hall in barangay Dao recently.

At least 275 members of Indigenous Peoples from the municipalities of Dimataling, Dumalinao, Lapuyan, and Tabina have availed of the toolkits distributed by TESDA 9 under the “Special Skills Training Program” (SSTP) of the agency.

Regional Director Vincent Cifra said under the SSTP program, the government would like to show to the IPs and cultural communities that the government is just here to assist and help them to acquire skills so that they can use for their future employment and livelihood after the skills training.

The SSTP  is associated with toolkits for the IPs to use for their livelihood and for their work.

“The objective of SSTP is to develop the IPs’ specific skills and competencies and provide sustainable livelihood and work. More than that, it also intends to capacitate and empower them to earn income,” Cifra added.

Cifra said according to the study, more than 80% of those recruited by the insurgents are Indigenous Peoples (IPs) residing in the countryside who are very poor and don’t have food on their tables.

“If we could penetrate the IPs by showing them that the government is here for them, we can change their mindset and make them realize that the government is not their enemy, but their friend who always extend help to bring about better living conditions for the poor,” Cifra explained.

He also said that as the government is doing its share to uplift the lives of the IPs, he is hoping that the beneficiaries of the program will value and take care of the toolkits given to them.

Meanwhile, 1st District Representative Divina Grace Yu thanked the national government thru President Rodrigo Duterte for providing the Indigenous Peoples and cultural communities of the province with starter toolkits.

She said the toolkits distributed by TESDA9 will help improve the socio-economic well-being of our IPs and for them to learn livelihood undertakings.

Arceli Casi of Paglaum, Dumalinao said she was very happy to receive the toolkits, saying that it can help her prepare and cultivate her small farm.

“Nalipay kaayo mi nga nakadawat sa mga toolkits tungod kay makatabang ni sa among mga trabaho sa uma. Wala gyud mi magdahum nga mahatagan sa TESDA ug toolkits kay ang pagtuo namo nga libre nga skills training lang ang itanyag sa amoa sa gobyerno (We are very happy that we received the toolkits because these will help our work in the farm. We did not even expect that toolkits will also be given since we thought that only free skills training was offered to us by the government),” Casi said who underwent 26-day skills training on agriculture under the program.

Rosalie Mangangot of Marwing, Lapuyan said she can immediately apply the skills that she learned during the training.

“These toolkits will help improve our living conditions as IP women. I can now cook and sell it directly to the public,” Mangangot said who is also thinking of putting up a carenderia where she can display her dish. (RVC/GCC/PIA-Zamboanga del Sur)

 

News Feed:

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1028690
Latest News | Philippine Information Agency