22 February 2012
A village in Quezon City that was swamped by flash floods nearly three years ago became the first stop of the Mobile Training Plus (Park and Train) bus of the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA).
TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva led the ceremonial turn-over of the bus to the residents of Barangay Bagong Silangan in the city’s second district, which will serve as the village’s new “school” for those who will engage in technical-vocational education.
“This is TESDA’s way of bringing alternative education closer to the people of poor communities that equally deserve opportunities for development. Through this mobile training bus, we reach out to you,” Villanueva said during simple rites witnessed by QC officials led by Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte.
A total of 264 beneficiaries will receive the free training in various courses using the mobile training bus.
The courses include Computer Hardware Servicing NC II, which will have 32 trainees, Motorcycle/ Small Engine Servicing NC II (45 trainees), Electrical Installation and Maintenance (30 trainees), Community Disaster Management Program (25 trainees), and Entrepreneurship Appreciation Course with Values Formation, a support program (132 trainees).
Barangay Bagong Silangan was chosen as among the first beneficiaries of the program being one of the city’s poorest communities.
“Because the area is quite remote, public services hardly reach the people,” Villanueva said.
He also noted the experience of the village when it was hit by typhoon Ondoy in 2009, which left many parts of Metro Manila under water.
“Help to our less fortunate brothers and sisters can come in many ways, and education is what TESDA intends to bring them,” he said.
After Barangay Silangan, the mobile training bus will have its next stop in Barangay Tumana in Marikina, said the TESDA chief.
TESDA will also offer 20 slots for workers in the area and free assessment for overseas Filipino workers who may want to avail of the program under the NATCAT (National TVET Competency Assessment and Certification).
After finishing the course, the graduates will receive certificate and will be provided with a tool kit to help them practice their craft and find work.
The air-conditioned, 100-person capacity mobile bus is equipped with 16 computer units for contextual learning. It also carries a collapsible tent that may be set up on the side for practical work and assessment.
For the project in Barangay Silangan, TESDA partnered with the Jacobo Gonzales Memorial School of Arts and Trade, Mechatronics and Robotics Society of the Philippines and the Community Health Education Emergency Rescue Services for the delivery of the training.
The training cost such as trainer’s fee, electricity, gasoline, supplies and materials will be shouldered by the partner institutions, which will be charged later on through the Training for Work Scholarship program vouchers.
The bus was donated by the Genesis Group of Companies, which earlier partnered with TESDA in the training, assessment and certification of their bus drivers. The company operates the Genesis Transport Services Inc, Saulog Transit and Dagupan Bus Company. It committed to donate two buses to TESDA.
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