LOAKAN-The Abra office of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has been reaching more special clients through the Community Based Training amidst the health crisis.
The journey of 16 drug surrenderees in San Juan, Abra started when the Municipal Police Station tapped the services of TESDA Abra Provincial Office with an orientation/advocacy session on TESDA programs with the different barangays of San Juan in February 2020 out of which 16 drug surrenderees decided to undergo skills training in hollow block-making.
The training was conducted by TESDA-Abra on June 10-17, 2020 coordinated by Mrs. Marietta B. Ta-a, PESO Manager and Community Training and Employment Coordinator (CTEC) of the San Juan municipality through the training-cum-production delivery.
After the training, the group had an initial production of 832 pieces of concrete hollow blocks and sold it to the various business establishments and private individuals. They earned P65,748.00 from their sales and used the money to improve their production facilities such us putting shades in their work areas, water source connection, and purchase of screen for gravel.
To date, the group is one of the suppliers of hollow blocks in San Juan and they are now completing their orders of 2,650 pieces.
According to Maricon Taclaoan the community-based training focal of TESDA-Abra, “Diyay chance da kuma nga inted ti government ket pahalagahan da hoping nga from that nga starting point da ket tuloy-tuloy kuman tapno handa ag subli iti naka-iawawanan da. Also the skills training that they had from us kuma ket I share da lalo iti pamilya da. Ken TESDA is always open nu inya man ti program nga maipaay kinyada especially kadagiti special clients”.( “We hope that they value chance the government gave them and continue the right path and share the skills training they have acquired to their family. TESDA is always open and will offer programs especially to our special clients”).
The group enjoyed their new undertaking keeping in mind there is always a second chance in improving their lives. They were thankful to TESDA for providing them with productive skills that serves as their useful tool in coming back to society as a changed person.