BAGUIO CITY July 17 — The Cordillera region is among the areas in the country that will benefit from the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to train people in the sector to be self or wage employed.
The MOA is in line with TESDA’s two-pronged strategy on poverty reduction that aims to provide interventions through skills development to Indigenous Peoples.
The agreement, a copy of which was received on Monday, acknowledged the relevance of Republic Act (RA) 8371 known as “Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997” which recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) within the framework of national unity and development.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has repeatedly spelled out the importance of attending to the needs of the IPs in the country and called on agencies to exert effort to aid the marginalized communities with skills development that would improve their conditions.
TESDA Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Regional Director Rafael Abrogar II, in an interview at the sidelines of the recent graduation of skills trainees, said there are around 900 members of the IP communities in Abra who have benefitted from the MOA after it was signed in February 2017.
He mentioned of competencies such as bread making, food processing, small engine services, wiring and lighting systems, preventive maintenance for motorcycles, as among the trainings made available.
There are also other TESDA skills trainings available for which Certificates of Competency (COC) can be issued, allowing graduates to qualify for employment here or abroad.
Abrogar explained that the COCs promote self-employment and for IPs to be self-sufficient as well as a bridge for wage-employment.
Abrogar said they expect an increase in the number of IPs in the region who will avail of TESDA programs under the MOA by the end of July.
Feliciano said “the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will benefit from this administration’s project since we all know that CAR has the most IP communities.”
Abrogar added that TESDA Cordillera will strengthen its programs and will exert effort to reach those in far flung communities to extend high quality and efficient technical education and skills development including scholarships available to the sector.
During the same occasion, TESDA Deputy Director General for Operations Alvin Feliciano said the agreement targets to serve about 20,000 to 30,000 IPs nationwide.
Feliciano has reiterated President Duterte’s thrusts saying that there are available programs and grants to equip everyone with skills. “Poverty is not a hindrance to improving one’s self,” as there are supports the government gives for the betterment of Filipinos. **Nestor Castañeda Jr./PNA
