TESDA sets P335M skills development budget to help reintegrate MILF fighters

From InterAksyon (Aug 16): TESDA sets P335M skills development budget to help reintegrate MILF fighters

Aiming to help transform the lives of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters through technical-vocational education, and jumpstart development in the Bangsamoro areas, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) has allotted P335 million from the agency's 2015 budget for school-based and community-based training.

Of the P335 million, Secretary Joel Villanueva, Tesda Director General, said, some P202 million will cover school-based training inclusive of training fee, assessment fee, tool kits, training allowance, while the remaining amount was allocated for the community-based training.

"This funding is part of the Bangsamoro normalization program," Villanueva said, adding that an integral part of the normalization track anticipates the provision of tech-voc education for as many as 11,000 returning MILF rebels.

Villanueva said that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) has articulated that this would be "for the training of [MILF] combatants who will be reintegrating ito civilian life. The recipients of the said project will be identified by the OPAPP and MILF leaders."

The move, he stressed to journalists, is one way of empowering the Bangsamoro people to be productive members of the community and the country.

Last year, at least 1,000 scholarship vouchers were made available to MILF rebel returnees or their dependents to give them access to skills training and jobs.

Sajahatra Bangsamoro, or Peace Bangsamoro, is the Aquino administration's socio-economic initiative to uplift the health, education and livelihood conditions of the MILF communities.

Tesda, together with the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education, will play a key role in the initiative through the provision of education assistance to MILF members long deprived of government support.

Tesda will be partnering with public and private institutions for the training of the scholars.

In areas where there are no training providers, the Tesda Provincial Office will assist the scholars in looking for the nearest provider.

Another option is for the institution to conduct the training right in the area where the scholars are located.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/93427/tesda-sets-p335m-skills-development-budget-to-help-reintegrate-milf-fighters