17 March 2016
As the El Nino weather phenomenon dries out farm lands, agricultural workers are getting the much-needed assistance through skills training for possible employment.
Through a program of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the agricultural workers will be offered training on carpentry, masonry and construction-related courses to help equip them with alternative skills to provide for other means of income.
For 2015 and 2016, TESDA initially allotted more than P18 million funding for the training expenses of P1,850 agricultural workers from 22 provinces hit by El Nino.
The TESDA implements intervention program for El Niño from last quarter of 2015 to June this year.
This month, a group of farm workers from Sarangani province completed their masonry course and are now ready for employment.
“Our farmers will need all the help they can get in the El Niño months and training them to acquire new skills is one way of intervention that TESDA can do,” TESDA Director General Irene Isaac said.
The training program for the El Niño affected areas is part of TESDA’s commitment to support the government’s initiatives to mitigate the adverse impact of the weather phenomenon, which includes damage to crops, severe pest infestation, which would lead to the loss of livelihood of our farmers, she said.
"We can't just let our farmers bear the brunt of the weather phenomenon and do nothing. This training will tap their potentials to learn new things, excel in them and make it a source of income," Isaac added.
In coordination with the DOLE, the trainees would be provided with subsidy for the entire training under the cash-for-work program.
The graduates will get toolkits to support self-employment ventures.
Graduates who would pursue wage employment would be referred to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for possible jobs. This was the commitment made by DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson in an earlier discussion with TESDA.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) predicted a below normal rainfall in most parts of the country from January to April, which may lead to drought condition.
To date, the state weather bureau said that more than 60 provinces that will be affected.
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