LUNA, Apayao – A new wave of skilled workers is ready to take on Apayao’s industries as 425 graduates of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) completed their training in various fields.
Their mass graduation ceremony was held on March 13, 2025, at the ECBJr. Evacuation Center and Multi-purpose (Aliwa) Gymnasium.
The efforts of trainees who invested months mastering technical skills will now open doors to employment and entrepreneurship.
Coming from different parts of the province, said graduates earned their training certificates in Bread and Pastry Production NC II, Organic Agriculture Production NC II, Hilot (Wellness Massage) NC II, Agricultural Crops Production NC II, Events Management Services NC II, Masonry NC II, and Driving NC II. Their next step will be the National Assessment, where those who pass will receive their national certificates that will further solidify their qualifications in their respective fields.
Apayao Lone District Representative Eleanor C. Bulut-Begtang, who has long been a staunch supporter of TESDA programs, personally congratulated the graduates and acknowledged their hard work. She challenged them to turn their newly acquired skills into real opportunities and reminded them that they are now equipped to earn and to ultimately uplift their families and communities.
The graduates trained in various TESDA-accredited institutions in the province such as the Provincial Training Center-Apayao, Apayao Training Center, Veaveranda Nature Farm and Training Center Inc., Agguigaman Agro-Eco Tourism Farm, Puputi Nature Farms, and JFB Cares Learning and Training Center, among others.
For these 425 graduates, the training does not mark an end but a beginning. Whether they choose employment, start their own businesses, or further hone their skills, they now carry with them the capability to carve a better future. With continued government support and their own determination, the province’s skilled workforce is set to grow stronger, proving that technical education is a fundamental driver of economic progress in the province. By Michelle Acantilado
