[from left, clockwise] TESDA Regional Director Gaspar S. Gayona, TESDA Senior Specialist Adonis F. Culas, DSWD ARD for Operations Rebecca A. Santamaria, DSWD Community Driven Enterprise Development Officer Ma. Victoria N. Arancon, and Pantawid Pamilya Coordinator Araceli M. Layog [back on camera] at a recent consultation meeting.

DAVAO City -The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are set to run community based skills training in the parishes of Eden, St. Jude, Buda, St. Francis and in selected areas in Barangay Malabog, Paquibato District.

Proposed courses/qualifications include Organic Agriculture NC II (National Certificate II), Masonry NC II cum Production, Motorcycle Repair, Plumbing, Carpentry, Cookery.

The Special Training Employment Program (STEP) will be adopted as implementation guide.

The capacity building initiative will be community driven and resource based to ensure clear market profitability and employability. All proposed courses are based on the result of the participatory livelihood issues analysis (PLIA) which was earlier conducted in the identified areas by DSWD Project Development Officers.

TESDA will implement the training while DSWD covers the training cost which includes provision of starter kit per program participant.

Part of identified training participants are Pantawid Pamilya recipients to access them to better livelihood opportunities.

Meanwhile, DSWD and other line agencies continue to assist Pantawid Pamilya program participants in the region.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provides Starter Kits to training graduates, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) employs 188 Pantawid Pamilya workers under the Pantawid Lansangan project, TESDA provides Vocational Skills Training; and the Department of Agriculture (DA) co-implements the Cash for Building Livelihood Assets (CBLA) particularly in the irrigation rehabilitation in Davao Oriental.

In addition, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) offered a Fish Cage Training cum Production in Boston as well as introduced a Payao Project in Sarangani, while Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) extended Php 11 million for the Abaca Production in Boston.

Currently, DSWD Livelihood Unit is also exploring partnership with Davao National Agricultural School for technical and vocational capacity building of Pantawid beneficiaries, as well as collaboration with Victory Global Company as support arm in the organic farming venture for Pantawid families. DSWD