189 Youth to Benefit From Tech-voc Program

Aligned with one of the key development agenda of Governor Hilario Davide III is the implementation of TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) that targets underprivileged youth.

Under Davide’s education agenda, the Cebu Provincial Government through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) carries out TWSP that will benefit 189 scholars in Cebu Province.

The program was officially launched consecutively in the municipalities of Carcar and Argao last Oct. 1 and 9, reflecting the collaboration between the Cebu Provincial Government and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The first and second batch of identified scholars witnessed the launch.

TWSP aims to fill up the skills gaps and job requirements of industries that have high demand for employment and to encourage technical vocational schools to offer programs that cater the demand.

The137 scholars from the municipalities of Carcar, Argao, Alcoy, and Naga will undergo a 35-day motorcycle and small engine servicing training under the College of Technological Sciences-Cebu (CTS-Cebu), an outsourced technical vocational institute of TESDA.

Some 25 scholars of Malabuyoc will learn electrical maintenance and installation at the University of Cebu (UC) while 27 scholars from Naga will be trained for dressmaking by Provincial Training Center (PTC)-Samboan.

The courses were selected based on the skills demanded by the target areas as gathered by the community development assistants.

Since the facilitators have seen the limited resources of the scholars to sustain their vocation, the Cebu Provincial Government requested for mobile training centers for the convenience of the trainees.

TESDA approved the request of the facilitators and recommended the three technical vocational institutes such as UC, CTS-Cebu, and PTC-Samboan, which are all acknowledged by TESDA as training and assessment centers.

The decision to choose the mentioned institutes was also to ensure the continuity of the program’s phases. After the program, the scholars will be assessed to check their competency before the national certificates are released.

Meanwhile, PSWDO is looking into being able to provide the basic toolkits for the scholars upon their graduation.

“This will not only help them start possible livelihood but hopefully they will feel rewarded for having finished the training,” said Rio Abarquez, PSWDO’s focal person for the program.

Hopefuls

One of the scholars from Carcar is Kenneth dela Cerna, 22, who volunteered to be enrolled in the program.

Kenneth said that he is living with his grandparents because his parents have parted ways and now have separate families.

“Wala ko magbutang og kasuko sa akong ginikanan kay bisag unsaon sila ma’y hinungdan nga naa ko dinhi sa kalibutan. Kinahanglan lang positibo akong panglantaw sa kinabuhi ubanan og daghang pag-ampo (I don’t have anything against my parents because they are the reason I’m here. I just need to retain a positive outlook in life as well as prayers),” dela Cerna shared.

One of the reasons that Kenneth pursued to be trained under the program is that he wanted to provide for his grandparents.

Among those thankful for the scholarship program were Francis Michael Alivio, Jomari Amahan and Arvin Padin.

“Daku among pasalamat sa mga nagmugna ani nga programa. Hinaut daghan pang ingon-ani sa mga moabot nga panahon (We are thankful to the proponents of this program. Hopefully, similar opportunities will available in the future),” said Alivio.

Jesrael Sabanal, one of the identified scholars, shared that he was excited for the training. He has been working for the family after he graduated from secondary school in 2010.

Sabanal said he wanted to go to college and admitted that it was difficult for him to save for his tuition.

“Magasto gyud ang tinigum kay mas unahon nako ako pamilya kaysa sa akong kaugalingon. At least karon, makakat-on ko’g bag-ong skill unya puhon makatabang sad ko sa balay (What money I could earn and save I give it to my family. At least now, I can learn new skills that I can use to help for the expenses at home),” he said.

On the other hand, Ponciana Caballero, CTS-Cebu Scholarship Coordinator, said that the scholars must use the opportunity well.

“All we ask is that there will be no absences and that the scholars will all finish competitively,” Caballero added.

www.cebu.gov.ph