Gov’t troops, IPs, FRs to undergo TESDA skills training
By ROBERT E. ROPEROS
BUTUAN CITY – Government troops from the 29th Infantry Battalion headed by its Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Isagani Criste, as well as Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and former rebels (FRs) are set to undergo skills training through TESDA-Agusan del Norte.
According to Provincial Director Rey M. Cueva, the training is planned to be conducted in August where each patrol base under the area of responsibility of the 29th IB will send three participants: a soldier or a CAFGU member, IPs and FRs.
“The battalion is composed of 12 patrol base, so we have to expect 36 participants who will undergo training by next month,” Dir. Cueva said.
The participants will be trained in organic vegetable and native chicken production that will run for three days. Right after the training, Cueva added TESDA will provide seedlings for them to plant vegetables and create demo farms in their respective areas, as well as poultries for the native chickens.
After a month, TESDA together with the 29th IB will inspect and assess the demo farms of each patrol base. Those who have made the best demo farm will receive an award. The participants who have finished the training are required to undergo trainer’s training so that when they go back to their respective areas, they will train other members of the community.
In a related development, TESDA-Agusan del Norte have committed to train the existing former rebels (FRs) that are now under the battalion’s custody in Food Processing, Entrepreneurship, and Tilapia production for which trainers of the Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries (NMSF) through the leadership of Mr. Romel M. Natad, Vocational School Administrator II will be the training provider.
Aside from this, Dir. Cueva said TESDA will also help develop the existing demo farms created by the FRs to be learning sites of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).
This move of Dir. Cueva supports the agency’s slogan “TESDA Abot Lahat” which is one of the flagship programs of TESDA Sec. Isidro S. Lapeña in support to EO 70 institutionalizing a whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace. (TESDA Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
