THE first batch of 350 scholars in Bacolod City under the Training for Better Access to Job Opportunities (TraBAJO) program funded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has completed their courses.
The graduation rites was held on Sunday at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who witnessed the ceremony, stressed in his speech the importance of education as he challenged the graduates to use their skills to make their own lives better and to also contribute to the growth of the city.
“If you have to do a job, do it right and do it well,” the mayor said. “That’s the least that we can do to please the DILG that came up with this program, because they want us to improve as a people.”
The trainees availed of the scholarship grants from the TraBAJO program to train in various courses, including Cookery NC II, Massage NC II, Food and Beverage Services NC II, Housekeeping NC II, and Bread and Pastry Production NC II.
They attended four technical vocational institutions – Master Global Education and Livelihood, First Academy of Skills and Technology, Excelsius Technical and Vocational Training Center, and VMA Global College and Training Center.
The training is based on Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) standards, and all graduates were given Tesda certificates.
The TraBAJO program is a pilot project of the DILG aimed to reduce poverty and creating massive quality employment.
Last January, the DILG provided P15 million for Bacolod City for the implementation of the TraBAJO program.