SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) -- A total of 299 scholars of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) from southern Occidental Mindoro received livelihood starter toolkits in their Mass Graduation held in the municipality of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro.

The beneficiaries underwent the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), “a community-based training program that seeks to address the specific skills needs of the communities and promote employment, through entrepreneurial, self-employment, and service-oriented activities,” as explained by TESDA.

Under the program, scholars who underwent Bread and Pastry Production training and an electric oven with an electric mixer.

Beneficiaries who took Food Processing training and were taught about salting, curing, and smoking food received food processor equipment, mixing bowls, knife, chopping boards, weighing sclaes, and plastic seaelers.

At the same time, tools such as pipe wrenches, hacksaws with blades, pull-push rule, and spirit-level bar and ball peen hammers were given to Plumming NC 1 scholars to supplement their training.

Additionally, 196 graduates of Shielded Metal Arc Welding Training or SMAW NC I received portable welding machines, auto-darkening welding helmets, and angle grinders, totaling P1,624,448.31 for the four scholarships.

House Representative Leodi Tarriela of Occidental Mindoro underscored in his address that one of the contributory factors for unemployment is the lack of skill training for workers.

“Marami sa ating mga kababayan ay may mga kakayahan ngunit kulang ang skills or training, o kaya walang kaukulang certifications o patunay na maaaring [kailanganin] ng employer…Napakahalaga ng pagkakaroon ng TESDA training skills dahil mabibigyan ng pagkakataon kayong mga able-bodied workers na makapagtrabaho at pumasok sa ibat ibang kumpanya sa loob at labas ng ating probinsya,”

(A lot of our citizens are skilled but lack training or certifications employers may require. Having TESDA training skills is important as it will provide opportunities for able-bodies workers like you to work for companies inside and outside of our province), Tarriela added.

TESDA Provincial Director Rosalina Reyes advised the graduates to maximize the use of the toolkits for livelihood and prohibited them from selling the equipment.

“Sana pagbigay namin ngayong maghapon [ng mga toolkit], wala akong makita sa Facebook marketplace na nakapost. Hindi po ‘yon ang gusto nating mangyari. Ang toolkits po [na] ibibgay sa inyo, gamitin po ninyo. I-practice ang inyong pinag-aralan. Gamitin upang makapagsimula ng hanapbuhay,”

(We hope that after we have awarded the toolkits, we do not see them posted on Facebook’s marketplace. That is not what we want. Use the toolkits to practice what you have learned. Use it to start a livelihood), Reyes highlighted.

Amelda P. Capiña from Brgy. Aguas, Rizal shared that she is eyeing to start a small business with homemade products such as longganisa, tocino, and smoked bangus using the toolkits she received.

“Maraming salamat sa TESDA (Thank you, TESDA),” Capiña said.

A P10 million budget had been earmarked for the TESDA scholarship programs this year, in partnership with different TESDA-accredited schools in the province according to Tarriela.

“Dahil dito, inaasahan natin na mas marami pang taga [Occidental Mindoro] ang mabibigyan ng pagkakataon na maging TESDA scholar at magkaroon ng skills training at makapaghanap ng trabaho (Through this, we expect that more people from Occidental Mindoro will have an opportunity to become a TESDA scholar and receive skills training to help them secure jobs),” he said. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)