THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in Negros Occidental is pioneering a community-based training program benefiting Negrenses, especially those in far-flung areas in the province.

Dubbed “Adopt a Community Training Program,” Tesda-Negros Occidental has launched the initiative in Salvador Benedicto earlier this month.

Jimmicio Daoaten, provincial director of Tesda-Negros Occidental, told SunStar Bacolod that the program is a community-based initiative wherein the technology vocational institute (TVI) adopts a community and provides training whether for free or at a cheaper cost.

Daoaten said that under the program, Tesda is providing the toolkit. The local government unit (LGU) pays the training and assessment costs.

For other LGUs, they can just provide an honorarium for the trainers, who are being matched with the need of the community.

“Through this program, we are increasing the access of the youth to trainings through service providers or training schools,” he said, adding that Tesda-Negros Occidental is the first to implement the program in the country.

The same initiative will also be implemented in Calatrava, Candoni and San Carlos City before the year ends.

Though, Tesda-Negros Occidental eyes to eventually cater to all other LGUs in the entire province.

For it to be realized, the agency is banking on government and private TVIs or training schools in the province.

“As a way of giving back to the community, TVIs will provide the training for free or LGUs will just shoulder only the fees for the trainer,” Daoaten said, adding that they hope to solicit support from many training institutions.

Tesda-Negros Occidental expressed optimism that the program will increase the percentage of access to Tesda services among Negrense youth.

Daoaten said “we hope to train more students in various qualifications, or courses, like food and beverage, cookery, bread and pastry, and wellness, among others.