MANABO, Abra (PIA) – A learning and assessment center in San Ramon East in the municipality of Manabo was officially opened to cater to the community and nearby areas.
The Casakgudan Learning and Assessment Center that serves the municipalities of Manabo, Boliney, Luba, and Tubo is assisted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in partnership with the municipal government unit and the Rural Improvement Club (RIC).
TESDA specialist Emilyn D. Sencio said the center is part of the TESDA Sa Barangay program, which is among the efforts of the government to bring trainings and skills development initiatives to the communities.
“Makipart-partner kami ti naduma-duma nga sector ti communities tapno kasta mabalin yo nga ipan dagiti programs, dagita visions yo, ket katulong dakayo nga mangi-implement kadagiti programs,” she said.
[We partner with the different sectors so that you can bring programs, your visions, so together we can implement the programs.]
Sencio encouraged scholars and trainees to use the knowledge and skills they learned to start a business for additional income.
“Haan laeng kuma nga agpatingga ti training. Syempre adda met a ti entrepreneurship activity na dayta. Adda met kuma ti equivalent na nga peso wenno dollar nu i-market yo abroad,” she urged.
[It should not stop with trainings. There are also entrepreneurship activities. There should also be equivalent in peso or dollar if you market it abroad.]
During the inauguration and dedication of the said facility, around 45 scholars graduated from a four-day organic fertilizer and mushroom production training held at the center.
RIC member Divina Licuben who participated in the said trainings shared that the skills she learned especially on organic fertilizer production can help her reduce the cost of farm inputs.
“Adu met ti naadal mi iti daytoy nga inted ti TESDA para kanyami. Napateg unay dayta nga inadal mi ta kasla kuma kadakami nga mannalon ditoy Manabo nga nu awan igatang mi ti bugaso ket mabalin kami nga mangaramid ti sarilimin nga organic fertilizer,” she shared.
[We learned much from the training conducted by TESDA. The learnings are very important. Like us, farmers in Manabo, if we do not have money to buy fertilizer, we can just make our own organic fertilizer.]
Joseph Battaoang, a retiree who graduated from the trainings, said that the skills he acquired can help him produce his own fertilizer and feeds for his farm animals.
“Nangina ngamin daytoy inorganic nga fertilizer. One thousand plus ti maysa nga sako ti urea isu napateg daytoy panagusar kadagidiay maaramid nga bugaso nga aggapo iti aglawlaw,” he shared.
[Inorganic fertilizer is expensive. One sack of urea costs one thousand plus that it why it is important to make fertilizer from what are available in the area.]
Aside from the organic agriculture training, he also joined the mushroom culture training to be able to produce mushrooms for home consumption and for business in the future.
“Ipadas ko nga i-improve tapno mabalin mailako ti dadduma nga mainayon iti bassit nga nabatbati nga pension,” Battaoang said.
[I will try to improve so that I can sell to augment my little pension.]
Currently, the center provides assessment for Agroentrepreneurship NC II and is currently completing paper works and processes to offer more trainings and assessments for different skills such as Mushroom Production and Organic Agriculture, among others. (JJPM, PIA-CAR, Abra)
