Mindanaotoday.com | Tesda-10 comes in the aid of farmers
By: Uriel Quilinguing
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Amid reports of supply gaps in agricultural products, farming practices are to be assessed and recognized in skills competitions, an official of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) said Wednesday, September 14, this year.
Tesda-10 Regional Director Ashary A. Banto, in a Meet-the-Press forum in Cagayan de Oro, said they are integrating – for the first time – agriculture-related trade competencies in the two-day 2022 Regional Skills Competition that will end Friday, September 16.
Cagayan de Oro Bugo Schools of Arts and Trades (Cobsat), a Tesda-accredited training center, was the venue of this year’s RSC where 15 trade areas were participated upon by five clusters of competing teams, their work judged, and skills manifested recognized.
These competition clusters are from Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental provinces of Northern Mindanao.
Banto said they have included competencies within the value chain of the agriculture sector, along the priority agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. who concurrently heads the agriculture department.
“We need not conduct crop production trainings, doing so would be superfluous because the Department of Agriculture has its training institute for farmers. What we do is to complement their trainings and focus on farm mechanization,” said the Tesda-10 head.
Three of these trade areas – all requiring national competency assessment and certifications – are Rice Machinery Operations (NCII), Motorcycle and Small Engine Servicing (NCII), and Drying and Milling Plant Servicing (NCIII).
For the 2022 RSC, Agriculture Feeds Formulation, Agriculture Knapsack Sprayer Calibration, and Agricultural Asexual Plant Propagation were among the 15 trade kills contested upon.
Banto said that Mechatronics, which is one the latest engineering technologies is included in the competitions, on top of the usual Welding, Electrical Installation, Wall and Floor Tiling, and Carpentry.
Seven other trade skills at the 2022 RSC include automotive technology, IT Network Systems Administration, Graphics Design Technology, Restaurant Service, Patisserie and Confectionery, Bakery, and Cooking.
Winners in the RSC will represent Northern Mindanao in the 2022 National Skills Competition sometime in December this year.
Lawyer Regine Beatrice Rodriguez and businessman Antonio Uy graced the occasion and delivered messages on behalf of Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez of the 2nd District, Cagayan de Oro, and Chairperson Eduardo P. Pelaez of the Regional Technical Education and Skills Development Council during the 2022 RSC opening on Thursday, September 15.
Tesda skills competition is provided for under Section 30 of Tesda Act of 1994 (Republic Act No. 7796, to promote quality skills development which include, among other areas, construction and building technology, creative arts and fashion, information and communication technology, manufacturing and engineering technology, social and personal services, and transportation and logistics. (UCQ | MT)