TESDA, Army chiefs lay down peace interventions
TESDA, Army chiefs lay down peace interventions
By ROBERT E. ROPEROS
BUTUAN CITY — Peace interventions are now put in place by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Agusan del Norte Provincial Office and the Philippine Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion (23IB) under its new leaders.
The development came after TESDA-Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Rey M. Cueva recently paid a courtesy visit to the 23IB headed by Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo.
During the meeting of the two officials, Dir. Cueva presented the interventions that TESDA is offering to communities that are considered Peace Development Zones (PDZs). He also pointed out that former rebels (FRs) are one of the special clients that TESDA is serving, in support to the implementation of EO 70 institutionalizing a whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace.
Through this, the official said the “TESDA Abot Lahat” slogan of the agency was conceptualized following the directive of Sec. Isidro S. Lapeña which anchors on EO 70.
For his part, Lt. Col. Paulo welcomed the newly-assigned provincial director and ensure its continuous partnership with TESDA. For the past years, TESDA has been closely working with the Philippine Army’s 23rd IB in the implementation of skills trainings and livelihood programs to FRs and the Indigenous Peoples (IPs).
Paolo stressed that a number of FRs are currently in their custody. They will be resettled in resettlement areas dubbed as “Masigasig Village for Peace” (MVP) which will be constructed in the following areas: MVP-1 in Sitio Bulak in Brgy. Lower Olave in Buenavista town; MVP-2 in Brgy. Hinandayan in Nasipit; and MVP-3 in Sitio Bukbokan in Brgy. Lawan-lawan, Las Nieves, all in Agusan del Norte. While in the village, the community will develop a farm as a form of livelihood.
The official further said that Agusan del Norte 2nd District Cong. Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba and Agusan del Norte Governor Dale B. Corvera have already committed to provide construction materials for the resettlement village.
Together with Dir. Cueva are the Vocational School Administrator II of the Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries (NMSF) Mr. Romel M. Natad whose trainers are regularly handling skills trainings in the 23IB, and Buenafe G. Enaya, Supervising TESD Specialist of TESDA-Agusan del Norte Provincial Office. (TESDA Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
