Mindanaotoday.com | 202 IPs from Gingoog graduate in TESDA courses
By: Vincent Philip Bautista
GINGOOG CITY – The Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA)-Misamis Oriental, in partnership with the city government of Gingoog, held a grand graduation ceremony for 202 Indigenous Peoples (IPs), as part of the government’s continued efforts in the-whole-of nation approach to end local communist armed conflict, November 22.
Hailing from the eight hinterland barangays of Lunao, Binakalan, Kalipay, Bantaawan, Eureka, Kamanikan, Lawaan, and Sioan, the 202 IPs were enrolled in TESDA-Misamis Oriental’s vocational courses meant to address the needs of their respective communities, ranging from agricultural, baking, and tailoring, through consecutive assessments and consultations.
“We are pleased that we can feel the government is there for all of us; our government is doing everything it can to help each Gingoognon, so as your leaders, we will do everything we can to help you because this is only the beginning,” Gingoog Mayor Erick Cañosa shared.
The mayor vowed continued assistance to the graduates and urged them to form an association to receive funding and capital through their local government unit’s Financial Assistance through the Livelihood to Associations and Cooperatives program.
For their part, representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Misamis Oriental and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Misamis Oriental expressed their support to the IP graduates by sharing their various programs in complementary to their newly honed skills.
As one of the IP graduates under the Poverty Reduction Livelihood and Employment Cluster’s (PRLEC) grand graduation ceremony, Barangay Kalipay Captain Ruel Mantatuan disclosed that he was initially skeptical about the skills training program in their community but was won over by the government’s sincere efforts in listening to their needs and concerns.
Mantatuan also urged his fellow graduates to use the skills they have learned in teaching their families and friends to become empowered and peaceful citizens. (VPSB | PIA-10 | Misamis Oriental)
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