By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay/Philippine News Agency
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is set to conduct skills training for Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Antique province starting May.
TESDA-Antique director Jose Gerry Hallares said in an interview Tuesday that they will meet with IP tribal leaders initially in three southern towns of the province in the coming days to discuss the skills training they are interested to learn.
“Although we have not yet set the specific dates for our meeting, we are going to the towns of Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, and Sibalom in preparation for the conduct of the skills training this coming May,” Hallares said.
He said that last year, some 349 IPs in the province underwent various skills training programs conducted by TESDA, such as installing pre-cast balusters and handrail leading to Masonry NC II, plaster concreting, and wellness massage.
Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, and Sibalom are inhabited by Aeta communities.
“TESDA will conduct the training (courses) in all IP communities in the province that are interested to avail of the program,” Hallares said.
The northern part of Antique is mostly inhabited by the Iraynon Bukidnon, who are mostly engaged in upland farming.
“TESDA could train the IPs in northern Antique on organic farming,” he said.
Hallares said TESDA-Antique is giving priority to the IP communities to give them alternative livelihood.
“What is unique with the TESDA skills training for the IPs is that there is an entrepreneurship program,” he said.
Hallares noted that aside from the IPs learning skills, they will also be given lectures on how to market their products and even manage their own businesses, for instance a welding shop if they took up welding.
“The TESDA training could also help address the problem on insurgency for there will also be lectures on their rights and privileges as Filipino citizens,” he said.
The lectures to be conducted during the IP skills training could at least help them increase their awareness, considering that they are the most vulnerable to recruitment by insurgents, he added.
Antique has about 18,000 cultural minorities, majority of whom are Iraynon Bukidnon and Aetas, with only a few Cuyonin.
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