August 1, 2018

Up to 5,015 internally displaced persons (IDPs) or evacuees brought about by armed conflict in Marawi City were given free skills and livelihood training by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Of the total number, 2,360 completed their technical vocational education and training (TVET) from various courses in construction that will help in the on-going rehabilitation in Marawi City.

This was reported by officials of TESDA Provincial Offices (POs) from Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte to Director General, Secretary Guiling “Gene” A. Mamondiong during the  "TVET Graduates Summit" held at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City last July 15.

The summit was organized by the TESDA Provincial Offices (POs) in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur in tandem with the TESDA Technology Institutes (TTIs) in Lanao del Norte and the Provincial/City Manpower Development Center (PCMDC) of Lanao del Sur and the Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs) of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental.

The gathering aims to show that TESDA especially the TVET graduates who were evacuated due to Marawi siege that they are ready after they were given free skills training by TTIs, TVIs  and PCMDC in various qualifications under the construction sector.

It would be recalled that TESDA immediately sent help to Marawi City by providing them skills and livelihood training programs to give them a new lease on life.

The graduates summit, composed of trainees from different qualifications, most particularly from the construction sector, was presented to Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM)  which is led by Asst. Secretary Felix Castro.

Other graduates took courses in the sectors of agriculture and fishery, electronics, garment, health, social and other community development services, tourism, etc.

The 2,360 graduates have expressed their readiness in the construction and rehabilitation of Marawi City which was under siege for five months from May 23 up to October 23, 2017.

The evacuees were given free skills scholarship program by TESDA under the Massive Skills Training Program (MSTP), Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) and Special Training for Employment Program (STEP).

Of  the total number of graduates from the construction sector, 1,155 finished under the STEP from 2017 up to the present composed of 128 graduates from Carpentry; Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC ll, 330; Masonry NC l, 58; Perform Multiple Plumbing, 95; Pipefitting , 65; Tile Setting, 100; and Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC l, 155.

A total of 215 people graduated under the TWSP: Heavy Equipment Operator (Forklift) NC ll, 40; Heavy Equipment Operator (Dumptruck) NC ll,15; Pipefitting 35; Shielded Metal Arc Welding, 95, Technical Drafting, 15; at Electrical Installation & Maintenance NC ll, 15.

At least 990 completed their courses in MSTP: Carpentry NC ll,75; Electrical Installation & Maintenance NC ll, 300; Heavy Equipment Operator (Dumptruck) NC ll, 40; Masonry NC l,50; Pipefitting,75; Plaster Concrete/Masonry Surface (Leading to Masonry NC ll), 200; and Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC l, 250.

Mamondiong has expressed satisfaction over the results of the skills training given by the agency to evacuees under the rehabilitation program of President Rodrigo Duterte for Marawi City.