TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña with Governor Eleanor Bulut-Begtang and Conner Mayor Martina Dangoy on February 16, led the groundbreaking for the Apayao Provincial Training Center in Malama, this town.
Apayao PTC Administrator Leah Galvez explained that instead of building a new structure for the new Apayao PTC, the two buildings donated by Conner LGU thru a usufruct agreement with the TESDA, will be refurbished to be transformed as the new training facility in Conner.
On the instructions of Lapeña, the donated buildings will be developed and will be improved through the Training Cum Production, which means the trainees of Carpentry, Electrical Installation and Maintenance and Plumbing programs will be the manpower to improve the old buildings and make it as a functional PTC, she explained.
The Training Center is set to offer more opportunities in skills training, livelihood and employment in the province particularly in the upper municipalities of Conner, Calanasan and Kabugao and also the nearby towns of Kalinga and Cagayan provinces, she added.
The facility which is expected to be completed and be operational within the year can accommodate at least 380 to 500 trainees a year on Driving National Certificate (NC) II, Organic Agriculture Production NC II, Bread and Pastry Production NC II, Assembly Solar Night Light and Post Lamp, Masonry NC I, Masonry NC II and soon will include Tilesetting NC II and Contact Tracing Level II.
Begtang thanked TESDA particularly the Secretary for taking time to visit Apayao and personally look into the situation to be able to provide the necessary support.
“We hope that though the visit of Secretary Lapneña, you could see firsthand the continuing needs of the yApayaos in terms of skills development and of livelihood undertakings which are considered critical to our effort towards economic recovery, and in the long-term, resiliency of our population especially now that we feel and experience the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Begtang said.
The governor lauded TESDA which has been a partner of the provincial government particularly in various poverty alleviation programs in the province. .
“We have had fruitful collaborations with the agency in the area of providing alternative and additional livelihood opportunities for our constituents especially those in the barangays. TESDA has been a very active partner of the provincial government in this area specifically by equipping our constituents of technical and vocational trainings and competencies,” Begtang said.
TESDA was also instrumental in the establishment of the now Apayao Training Center located in the municipality of Luna
After the program, the officials held a tree planting activity at the donated lot area as part of the Adopt a Tree program of the Conner LGU. They were joined by TESDA DDG Lina Sarmiento, Dir. Juliet Orozco, Regional Director Dante Navarro, Provincial Director Roger Dancel and other officials from Conner and Apayao. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)
By Redjie Melvic M. Cawis
