Tesda, farm school to train youth leaders in Manila

TO promote the importance of food sustainability to the younger generation, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority ( Tesda) recently signed an agreement with OMA Farming School Corp. to train members of Sangguniang Kabataan and other identified households in Manila in urban farming.

Tesda Director General Isidro Lapeña assured the agency’s allout support for the government’s campaign on food sustainability in the country.

“Food sufficiency is a concern not only of the country’s agricultural areas, and rice- producing regions. This is a cause of concern of all areas, including urbanized cities especially now that we are facing this pandemic,” he said during the signing of the memorandum of agreement ( MOA).

It was witnessed by highranking government officials, including Commissioner Greco Belgica of the Presidential Anti- Corruption Commission and OMA Farming School Corp. President Carmelita Belgica.

The Tesda chief shared that as the agency has initiated urban agriculture in Metro Manila, all urban settlers are encouraged to embrace the concept of urban agriculture.

The MOA indicated that 100 scholars will initially be trained in urban farming for free.

Under Tesda’s Training for Work Scholarship Program ( TWSP), urban farming scholars will also enjoy free assessment, training support fund, one- year accident insurance coverage, Internet allowance, and personal protective equipment allowance.

Among the highlights of the event was the launch of the OMA Farming School Corp. as the first private technical training institution to offer technical, vocational education and training in urban farming in the City of Manila.

The joint project is expected to jumpstart its operations immediately as the parties have already prepared the lineup of program beneficiaries.