Gov’t
agencies express support to TESDA-Caraga
By
Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN
CITY, Feb. 4 – Government agencies in Caraga region have expressed their
continuous support to the programs of the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA).
During
the graduation ceremony of the 477 trainees of the TESDA Skills Training
Program held Wednesday in Agusan del Sur, key officials of the different
government agencies gave their support to the agency in the presence on TESDA
Secretary Isidro S. LapeΓ±a.
Donald
Seronay, assistant regional director of the Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG)-Caraga said that since the inception of TESDA in the
region, DILG has been regularly supporting the programs of the agency.
“This
is because we have seen the impact of the trainings to the Caraganons, giving
them the opportunity to develop their skills and be productive society,”
Seronay said.
PCInsp
Venus Cale of the Philippine National Police underscored that TESDA has been
their regular partner in the conduct of Community Operations for Peace and
Development (COPD).
“With
the partnership that PNP and TESDA has, we were able to conduct COPD to
conflict-affected areas in the region,” she said.
Meanwhile,
Agusan del Sur Board Member Santiago Cane said that for as long as TESDA will
continue to create programs for his constituents, the provincial government
thru Gov. Eddiebong Plaza will always support the agency.
“While
TESDA-Caraga through the leadership of regional director Florencio F. Sunico,
Jr. is implementing programs to equip Agusanons with skills, we at the
provincial government are always here to back TESDA up,” he said.
With
these developments, Sunico also expressed his thanks and gratitude to the
different agencies through the officials present who have inspired TESDA to be
the transformational leader in the technical education and skills development
of the Filipino workforce. (TESDA Caraga/PIA Caraga)
P33.9M
irrigation project boosts rice production in Agusan Norte
By
Fretcher Magatao
NASIPIT,
Agusan del Norte, Feb. 4 - The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural
Development Project (DA-PRDP) led by Deputy Project Director Jodel Tabada
turned over the Php33.9 Million completed rehabilitation of Culit Communal
Irrigation System (CIS) in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte to the Culit-Kinabjangan
Irrigators Association on January 30.
The
improved and expanded CIS covers an influence area of at least 100 hectares
mostly planted with rice benefits 140 farming households.
“The
members of the association are grateful since all of the rice areas they have
can now be watered,” said Pausto Empanado, Jr., President of Irrigators’
Association.
Empanado
shared that the service area before can only reach up to 20 hectares since they
were just relying on earth canal.
The
potential service area was less utilized and farmers were just growing grass
and plants to feed their goats, pigs, and cows.
“Now
that the irrigation is completed, we want to utilize the potential service area
of the project. We will prohibit the animals to stay and lay down in the
irrigation canals. This is also our way of preserving the project,” said
Empanado.
The
municipality hopes that rice farmers’ production will be increased from 3
metric tons to 4.5 metric tons per hectare through the irrigation project.
Lydia
Apatan, Municipal Project Management and Implementation Unit Head, said that
the project can now provide a steady supply of water per cropping season so the
farmers can maximize cropping intensity.
“The
better production of rice farmers also means an increase in income which they
can use for their farms and expenses for the family,” said Apatan.
Mayor
Enrico Corvera said that the counterpart of the local government will surely
reap better returns.
“This
project required us a big amount as a counterpart, but the local government is
confident that this will result in an increase in local revenue,” said Corvera.
DA-PRDP
requires a 10 percent counterpart from the provincial or municipal local
government where the infrastructure project is implemented.
The
80 percent of the total budget is coming from the World Bank and the other 10
percent is from the government of the Philippines.
The
project has been partnering with the local government unit of Nasipit and the
Irrigators’ Association in building the CIS infrastructure and facilities to
raise the income, productivity, and competitiveness of the farmers in the
countryside. (DA Caraga/PIA Agusan del Norte)
TESDA chief
tells AgSur graduates to spread good news
BUTUAN
CITY, Feb. 4 - Secretary Isidro S. LapeΓ±a of the Technical Education and
Skills Development (TESDA) on Wednesday told graduates of skills training in
Agusan del Sur to spread the good news to their relatives, friends and townsmen
on the achievements they have.
Speaking
before the 477 graduates of the different skills training programs in the
province of Agusan del Sur, the official enjoined the graduates to inform the
public that they are now one-step closer in reaching their dreams.
LapeΓ±a
emphasized that good things happened during the conduct of the different
trainings must be shared so that those who will hear it will be encouraged to
take and enroll TESDA courses for free.
“May
mga scholarship programs naman po tayong ini-offer. May scholarship program pa
like the Private Education Students Financial Assistance (PESFA) na may
allowance na ipinamimigay (There are scholarship programs that we offer. We
have a scholarship program like the Private Education Students Financial
Assistance (PESFA) where allowance is given),” he said.
LapeΓ±a
added that after finishing the training, the graduates will be given an
opportunity to find a job that may extract their family from poverty.
The
TESDA chief also informed the graduates that they may also come to TESDA to ask
for help on where they can find a job that suits the skills they acquired.
“Hindi
lang natatapos ang misyon namin sa TESDA sa pagbibigay ng training, tutulong
din kami na makapaghanap kayo ng trabaho na akma sa inyong skills. (Our mission
does not end in providing you trainings, we will also be helping you find a job
that matches your skills)," he said. (TESDA-13/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
