KAPANGAN, Benguet – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) earmarked some P40 million from the agency’s annual budget this year for the implementation of the newly crafted Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on Wheels program that will be piloted test in the province.
Benguet Caretaker Congressman and Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Rep. Eric Yap stated that from the P100 million that he earlier requested from TESDA Director-General Isidro La Peña for the implementation of the aforesaid program, this was reduced to P40 million because of the other commitments of the TESDA officials in other regions and provinces in the country for the various programs to enhance the conduct of skills trainings in the different parts of the country.
He said he understands the situation of the TESDA officials having to address the various concerns of the agency in the different parts of the country that is why he provided a counterpart to ensure the immediate implementation of the mobile TESDA program that is geared towards providing quality skills training for interested individuals in the rural communities who cannot afford to travel for several hours and pay for expensive accommodation in the capital town of La Trinidad just to be able to pursue their desired trainings.
Under the TESDA on Wheels program, the bus that will be fully equipped with training equipment and trainers will be going around the 13 municipalities where interested individuals can get training on information and communication technology, electronics among other skills training competencies available from the agency.
According to him, it is now important for concerned government agencies to bring to the people similar programs because there is a need to ease the burden and impact of the COVID pandemic to the lives of the people, especially those from the rural communities who must be given the appropriate assistance for their recovery from the negative effect of the pandemic.
Congressman Yap assured the people of Benguet that he will not stop requesting assistance from top officials of concerned government agencies because he knows that the programs and projects are for the greater interest of his constituency and not his personal interest.
He emphasized he is doing these for the greater interest of the people of Benguet and that is why he will not be ashamed to make numerous requests for funding support from Cabinet officials as they are the ones who can best decide on whether or not to grant his request.
Congressman Yap underscored that he is working hard to provide genuine public service to the people of Benguet and that he wants the residents to feel the presence of government in their midst through the various services from the concerned agencies as he was surprised to learn during his earlier visits in the rural communities that they are not aware of the basic services being provided by the government. By HENT
