Davao City – More than 300 residents of Sta. Cruz town in Davao del Sur have successfully graduated last Tuesday (March 30) from a 15-day community-based skills training provided by the provincial government.
Apart from receiving their training certificates, the graduates also received ₱ 6,000 each as compensation for attending the training.
The training undertaken were on basic welding with 49 graduates; hair cutting and coloring (96); massage and nail art (117); and basic electrical wiring (47).
The trainees, who are residents from barangays Astorga, Darong, Inawayan, Jose Rizal and Sibulan, have started their training last March 1, 2021.
“Dako akong pasalamat sa paghatag og opportunity sa Tupad kay madala namo hangtod sa matigulang ang among nahibal-an karon,” stated Judith Arellano from Barangay Astorga, who chose to train on massage and nail art.
Governor Douglas Cagas congratulated the completers in a graduation ceremony held at the Davao del Sur Coliseum in Digos City.
The community-based skills training was implemented under the TUPAD Program or the Tulong Pang Hanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-XI) where a P2 million fund was poured in.
The local government’s implementation of TUPAD was modified by integrating employment opportunity to the beneficiaries through the Government Internship Program (GIP) which explained why the trainees were paid of their 15 days attendance.
Through this combined programs, the governor was hoping that this would enable the trainees to sustain their livelihood income if they pursue their newly-acquired skills.
Cagas also thanked DOLE-XI for the continuing support to the province, and for another assistance to fund the GIP this year, which amounts to ₱ 47,355,136.
About 1,700 residents from across the province are targeted to benefit from this assistance.
(Carina L. Cayon, PIA-XI | Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao OIC)