By PNA
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has allotted an initial PHP35 million for the construction of its regional office building in Soccsksargen this year.
TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña said preparations are underway for the construction of the facility at the Soccsksargen prime regional center complex at Barangay Carpenter Hill in Koronadal City.
The agency and the city government of Koronadal formally signed on Thursday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and the deed of donation for the regional office’s site, which has an area of 1,027 square meters.
Lapeña signed the agreements for TESDA while Mayor Peter Miguel represented the city, which owns the regional center site.
In a media briefing, the official said the approved funding was intended for the construction of the main regional office building, which was designed as a three-story structure.
He said the project will be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways 12 (Soccsksargen).
“We’re also planning to add a dormitory building for our visiting TESDA personnel and training scholars,” he said.
Lapeña, who visited the region several weeks after assuming as TESDA director general in October last year, said he saw the project as among the biggest needs of the regional office.
TESDA-12 has been renting a building in the past 14 years along the national highway in Koronadal City, which is the regional seat and center of Soccsksargen.
“I saw the condition of the office and it was really congested. So, I immediately endorsed to our board its funding and implementation and asked for authority to sign the MOA and the deed of donation for the lot,” he said.
Rafael Abrogar II, TESDA-12 director, said the agency had long been pushing to have its own permanent regional office building.
He adopted the project as among the top priorities when he was assigned as regional director for Soccsksargen in October 2017.
“It will help us improve our services further and perform our functions more efficiently and effectively,” he said.
