THE Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, along with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and City Government of San Carlos, has launched the "Vamos sa Barangay Buluangan at Guadalupe para sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran" project in two insurgency-cleared barangays in the city.
Under the project, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will be conducting training on Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Smaw) NC I for 50 city residents.
Twenty-five of them are from Barangay Buluangan and the 25 others are from Barangay Guadalupe.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who led the launching activity in Barangay Buluangan Covered Court recently, assured the province's commitment to peace and poverty reduction.
He said the provincial government will provide the necessary support for the achievement of the goal of the cluster.
The governor was joined by Tesda Acting Provincial Director Romelia Nuezca, San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo and First District Representative Gerardo Valmayor.
Gustilo, in his message, said he personally requested from the agency the welding course for the two barangays.
This is in preparation for the establishment of shipyard and dry dock in Sitio Katingal-an in Barangay Buluangan, "which will surely create more job opportunities for skilled workers," he added.
The mayor thanked Tesda for providing two batches of training on Smaw NC I, adding that he will continue to support the programs and services of the agency and PRLEC.
Valmayor, for its part, urged the beneficiaries to make use of their training to rise from poverty.
"After undergoing Smaw NC I, they should continue with NC II to further enhance their welding skills," he said.
Tesda-Western Visayas Regional Director Jerry Tizon, in a video message, said the launching is a testament that the government continues to work on "achieving inclusive and lasting peace that we have been fighting for decades."
"Executive Order No. 70 is one of the biggest game-changers when it comes to peace agenda in the country," he said, adding that "it is time to end the decade-long problem of insurgency in the country."
The official stressed, "It is time for every Filipino citizen to unite."
Moreover, Nuezca said the training will be implemented under the agency's Special Training for Employment Program (Step) scholarship.
Beneficiaries of the program will receive free training, free competency assessment, free entrepreneurship training, one-year accident insurance, internet allowance, health and personal protective equipment allowance, and training support fund and allowance of P160 per day.
Beneficiaries will also be given starter toolkits to further assist them in finding jobs or starting their own business, she added.
Other partners in implementing the program included the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Education, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, Cooperative Development Authority, Philippine Information Agency, Department of Agrarian Reform, Philippine National Police, and 79th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army.
Officials and representatives of local and national government offices also signed the pledge of support and commitment to the program.