MANILA — Skills training programs being offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) can significantly improve the lives of former communist rebels, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said.
PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said this as he commended TESDA-Caraga for launching its Empleyado Kabuhayan Program which will give employees skills demonstrations and development training to enhance their livelihood.
“Ako po’y natutuwa dahil napaka-successful ng launching ng programa ng TESDA dito sa Caraga Region (I am pleased because the launching of TESDA-Caraga’s program here was very successful),” Andanar told reporters in a chance interview in Surigao City on Monday, February 11.
“Marami sa dating rebelde ang gustong bumalik na sa lipunan. Napakalaki ng tulong ng TESDA para mabigyan sila ng kapasidad tulad ng mga hanapbuhay (There are a lot of rebels who want to return to the fold of law. TESDA plays a huge part in providing former rebels with capacity to start their own livelihood),” he added.
Andanar emphasized that President Rodrigo R. Duterte himself called on TESDA to enhance its capacity-building programs to help former communist rebels.
Earlier, TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña, who earlier said that poverty was among the root causes of insurgency, urged communist rebels to rejoin society.
Lapeña said his agency will present rebels with better livelihood opportunities.
