AT LEAST 47 former rebels and their dependents from Barangay Menchaca in Calatrava town are now graduates of various technical skills training extended by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).
The trainings are provided under the agency's Special Skills Training Program (SSTP), in partnership with the local government of Calatrava, 79th Infantry (Masaligan) Battalion and Atoniya Skills Education Inc.
The graduates received their training certificates in Bread and Pastry Making during their graduation rites held at municipal hall on June 18.
Acting Provincial Director Beverly Insular, in her message, emphasized that the program was conceptualized in response to the mandate of the Tesda as the chair of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).
The cluster aims to provide responsive measures to address poverty affectation among marginalized communities and basic sectors through the whole-of-nation approach.
"Tesda has been doing everything to make sure that our programs and services will be felt by all sectors of society, to live up to our agency's tagline Tesda Abot Lahat," she added.
Also speaking before the graduates, Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Alvaran, commanding officer of 79th Infantry Battallion, commended the former rebels and their families for their determination, perseverance and sacrifices to finish the training.
"Nawa'y huwag na tayong lumingon pa sa isang masalimuot na nakaraan, bagkus ay ipagpatuloy ninyo ang inyong paglalakbay patungo sa mapayapa at masaganang pamumuhay kasama ang inyong pamilya at mga mahal sa buhay," he said.
On June 19, another graduation was held to fete the 23 former rebels from Escalante City who successfully completed the training in Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II conducted by Tesda Provincial Training Center-Cadiz.
The 70 graduates from Calatrava and Escalante City were given starter tool kits and training allowance ranging from P1,000 to P2,800.
SSTP is the agency's scholarship program which provides skills training with entrepreneurship, free assessment, allowance of 100 per day, and free starter tool kits to the grantees. (PR)