Tuesday, May 06, 2008 Malita puts up own skills body to boost employment
A MUNICIPALITY in Davao del Sur has created a municipal technical education and skills development committee in order to improve employment rate.
Malita Mayor Benjamin P. Bautista Jr. created Malita's Municipal Technical Education and Skills Development Committee (MTESDC), which would serve as the policy-making body of the municipality in terms of technical-vocational education and skills training programs.
"They believe that technical-vocational education and skills development is one of the answers towards improving the employment rate," Tesda XI Information Officer Mafel Negrido-Gamale said in an interview Saturday.
Tesda Southern Mindanao helped Malita form the committee.
Bautista serves as the chair of the newly created committee, with co-chairs Honorable Raymund Danwata, and Dolores M. Ferolin, Municipal Planning Development Coordinator.
Completing the committee are representatives from various sectors, including agriculture, business and indigenous people.
They were inducted into office by the Tesda Southern Mindanao Regional Director Dr. Silvano B. Maranga at the Session Hall in Malita, Davao del Sur last April 30.
Since Davao del Sur second district Representative Franklin P. Bautista has already committed one million pesos to Tesda intended for Malita, the newly created MTESDC is already assured of a certain amount that can be used for the promotion of technical-vocational education and training in the municipality.
"Dr. Maranga informed the committee members that part of their responsibilities would be to go to other provinces to observe how the other provinces handle their tech-voc education system," Gamale said.
Gamale added that the trip to other provinces may "prove useful in their own formulation of policies that determine the programs or courses that should be offered by the tech-voc institutions in Malita".
The initial skills training programs shall be held at the Motor Pool of the
Malita Municipal Hall for the "mekaniko" and at the Bautista Municipal Training Center for the "masahista".
On graduation day, trainees will be awarded with Certificates of Training. They will also be given kits containing tools of the trade.
The Training on Wheels program is aimed at eliminating the burden of those who need skills training for livelihood purposes but cannot afford the fare and other expenses incurred should they enroll at training centers. (GLP)
