Livelihood for former rebels
30 former rebels join Tesda's animal production seminar
ABOUT 30 former rebels attended the animal production seminar for livelihood training of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Compostela Valley.
Compostela Valley had a total of 268 former rebels who were reported to have surrendered before President Rodrigo Duterte. Out of this number, only 65 were able to show up during the profiling at Maco, Compostela Valley last March. These 65 individuals were asked what kind of livelihood they would want to learn and be taught of. Most of them answered swine production while others wanted to learn shielded metal arc wielding and bread and pastry making.
The animal production seminar started on June 4 and will last for 42 weeks. Tesda Specialist Mafel Joanne Gamale said they would want to keep the location of the seminar confidential for the security of the former rebels however they assured that the seminar is being secured by the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and that the participants are free to go home every week.
“With these seminars, we would want these former rebels to be included again in the “mainstream”. We would want them to be able to go back to the community,” Gamale said.
She added out of the 65 former rebels present during the profiling, two women were already set for work abroad and already had their passports. She said they were interested to attend the bread, pastry, and cake making workshop of Tesda Compostela Valley.
“We are very happy of this. We are glad that they are gradually going back to the community and normal life,” she said.
Tesda Compostela Valley is scheduled to start with the wielding workshop next month as they are following the indemand jobs and seminars according to the answers of the participants during the profiling. The seminars and workshops were given to the participants for free.