February 23, 2018
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will launch today, February, 23, the National Integration Scholarship Program (NISP) in the National Capital Region, Region lV-A, Region IV-B and Region lll which aims to help uplift the lives of indigenous peoples (IPs), rebel returnees and Muslim Filipinos.
With the theme “Serbisyong Ramdam at Kapaki-pakinabang,” TESDA Director General Guiling "Gene" Mamondiong will lead the event at the TESDA Covered Court, TESDA Complex, Taguig City starting at 9 a.m.
Some 800 rebel returnees, IPs and Muslim Filipinos from Region lV-A or CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Region lV-B or MIMAROPA (Marinduque, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Palawan, Puerto Princesa, Romblon), National Capital Region (NCR), and Region lll are expected to take part in the ceremony.
Among the activities in the program include an orientation on various TESDA scholarship programs, free haircut and massage, product demos, cultural presentation and the signing of manifesto on the skill training programs.
Mamondiong said that the program will give free skills training to those who are interested and qualified applicants in the technical-vocational (Tec-Voc) courses provided by TESDA.
The free skills training program is contained in the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed between Mamondiong and Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo, chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) last Feb. 28, 2017.
Mamondiong initially launched the program in Davao, Cebu, Butuan, Pagadian City, Caraga and Baguio City.
In his speech to the 136 IP chieftains of Northern Mindanao and Caraga who attended the National Integration Scholarship Program (NISP) Forum in Butuan City, Mamondiong said that President Duterte instructed him to help the IPs, rebel returnees and Muslim Filipinos through the scholarship program.
“Ibibigay sa inyo ang dapat na ibibigay sa inyo” Mamondiong assured the beneficiaries of the scholarship program.
The TESDA chief also said that many IPs, rebel returnees and Muslim Filipinos were not able to finish school due to poverty that's why the government agency wants to help them.
“Mindanaoan people must take advantage to the development programs for IPs since our President, Rodrigo Roa Duterte who hails from Mindanao and also has an indigenous people’s blood running through his veins poured out billions of pesos of priority programs and projects to uplift the quality of life of his constituents," Mamondiong added.
He also said that those who will finish the skills training will be given livelihood opportunities.
"TESDA will be coordinating with concerned government agencies for the realization of the program such as the Department of Trade and Industry, Land Bank of the Philippines, Department of Agriculture, at Department of Agrarian Reform," Mamondiong also said.
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