TESDA trains druggies in Kalinga NPA areas

PINUKPUK, Kalinga -- Seventy-five   residents including drug surrenderees   in a  remote village here   gained new skills  through the   Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Artemio Jose Jr., Provincial Training Center (PTC) head, said 50 drug-surrenderees in  Ammacian, this town completed  their training  on  masonry   and driving with  25 trainees each.

Another 25 individuals from  Barangays Balantoy in Balbalan were also trained on masonry.
 “Conducting training to drug surrenderees help them reform and to become productive citizens. Bringing training to the grassroots for interested constituents including dependents, relatives and barrio-mates of rebels also serve as invitation for NPA members to come down join the mainstream society and obtain skills to start livelihood and earn a living,” Jose Jr. explained.
       “The training intervention conducted form part of TESDA’s contribution to the “Whole of Nation Approach” of ending local communist armed conflict in the country, he added.

Both barangays are NPA-affected villages.

In another development, Rex Laguinday of Pinukpuk Vocational School who represented the Cordillera Administrative Region in the Luzon Zonal Skills Competition  won silver on cabinet making.(JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)