Tesda announces skills training, livelihood for IDPs

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Misamis Oriental (Tesda-Misor) has announced that some P100 million has been allocated to help internally displaced persons (IDPs) acquire additional skills and access livelihood opportunities.

About 900 livelihood slots have been made available specifically for IDPs from Marawi City, Tesda provincial director Leo Velez said adding that P45 million of the budget is ready for release.

"Here in Cagayan de Oro, we have an initial 900 slots available for them, but this will be added in the next weeks. In Lanao del Norte, we already offered 4,500 slots for our displaced borthers and sisters there," Velez said, during yesterday's livelihood orientation for IDPs at the Patrick Cronin Hall, St Augustine Cathedral, this city.

Velez said they are offering two kinds of livelihood opportunities for the IDPs, one, the immediate intervention, and the other one, is the long-term intervention.

Displaced persons can avail the manicure, pedicure, haircut jobs, as among the immediate job opportunities. The Tesda assures they will provide the supply for these kind of jobs.

The long-term livelihood opportunities meanwhile include, carpenters, welders, electricians, plumber, tile-setter, heavy equipment operator, among others.

"We envision that the products of these long-term opportunities can help in the rehabilitation of Marawi City. President Duterte already allocated an amount for the rehabilitation of Marawi, but we also need not overlook the human infrastructure," he said.

The IDPs can also choose where or what venue would they want to learn, as the Tesda offers schoolbased and community-based training.

City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) head Teddy Sabuga-a said the assistance is in line with the City Government's intervention program for the IDPs residing in the city.

The CSWD is working with various government agencies to assist IDPs that have sought refuge in the city.

"While they are away from their homes, we also see their needs to earn a living," he said.

Sabuga-a said the community leaders of each barangay will be tasked to recruit the interested IDPs.

According to the Police Regional Office-10, there are already 14,994 IDPs in the city.