MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (PIA)—The ‘TESDAmayan’ was on full display when teams led by Bukidnon Provincial Director Vicente E. Cruz volunteered and offered services in typhoon-affected Silo-o village in Malitbog, Bukidnon, January 18.

In the spirit of Bayanihan—pursuant to the whole-of-government recovery effort—the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in coordination with Malitbog town Mayor Osmundo N. Dela Rosa, helped rebuild damaged houses and distributed relief packs.

Silo-o was greatly affected by Typhoon Odette. With this, Punong Barangay Pepito Dominguez, Barangay council members, and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management team closely worked with TESDA to demonstrate the much-loved Filipino spirit of solidarity and cooperation by repairing the houses damaged by typhoon ‘Odette’ last December.

The ‘TESDAmayan Operations’, Cruz said, is one of the agency’s banner programs created under the leadership of TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña that aims to help communities affected by crisis such as natural disasters, or any conflicts and incidents that cause displacement among residents.

Cruz also said that TESDA-Bukidnon, through its Community Training and Employment Coordinator (CTEC) Milojane Alogar, conducted the ‘skills needs assessment’ in barangay Silo-o, is accordance with Secretary Lapeña’s directive to provincial offices to provide skills training, particularly on construction-related courses, to residents of typhoon-affected areas.

TESDA Bukidnon Cluster personnel who worked together with Malitbog local government include Administrative Officer Daniel Cañete; Supervising TESD Specialist Abdulwahid Madum; PTC Senior TESD Specialist Augustine Hortel Matbagon; PTC TESD Dayanara Inguito Durias; TESD Specialist Jessica Christine Dumas, Administrative Aide Ricardo Maestrado; Support Staff Sidney Verano; and Community-based Trainer in Carpentry NC II Allan Revilla with his team. (JCDumas, TESDA-Bukidnon/PIA 10-Bukidnon)