Three barangays were visited today by Sec Joel Villanueva and TESDA volunteers headed by Director Mitzi Tangonan as part of TESDA 19th Anniversary's Tulong ng TESDA relief operations project. TESDA is supposed to hold a week-long anniversary celebration but because of the massive flooding caused by the tropical storm “Maring”, it opted a simpler and more austere celebration and diverted its resources to help our affected kababayans through the distribution of relief goods.

First stop was in Barangay Bagong Silangan Quezon City where more than 800 families were affected by storm Maring. Sec Joel also met with the barangay's quick response team who are graduates of TESDA's community disaster preparedness program during the TESDA Mobile Training Plus' tour of duty in the barangay.

Second stop was in Barangay Doña Imelda also in Quezon City just nearby the TESDA District office where flood waters rose to shoulder deep.

Third and final stop for the day was in Tipas Elementary School in Barangay Tipas, Taguig City. Sec Joel expressed his admiration to the social workers and teachers in Tipas who continue to work beyond their duty. (They later asked for a photo with Sec Joel).

Sec Joel will also go to the storm stricken communities in Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan, and Laguna in the next few days.

"Sa TESDA, may choice ka." - SECRETARY JOEL VILLANUEVA