Sec. Lapeña says formers rebels are tapped as trainers

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 3, 2021): Sec. Lapeña says formers rebels are tapped as trainers (By Mark Djeron C. Tumabao)

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, March 3 (PIA) - Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Isidro Lapeña said former rebels (FRs) who are graduates of their skills trainings are also tapped to train new returnees.

This, according to him, is one of the best ways to encourage rebels still active with the CPP-NPA to return under the folds of the law as their former colleagues are now trainers and trainees of the agency at the same time.

“We continue to provide assistance to our former rebels, returnees and we do this in conjunction with our military,” said Lapeña.

“The good thing about tapping former rebels as trainers of [former] rebels is that they can communicate better because they speak their mother tongue,” he added.

FRs as part of the TESDA’s workforce

Employing former rebels to be part of the workforce of the agency is TESDA’s new direction according to Lapeña.

While at present, there are no former rebels employed as either job order or COS employee, the secretary bared that they are welcome to apply as long as they meet the minimum requirements of the position they are applying for.

“We hope that there will come a time na meron tayong ma-employ [na former rebel] to join the agency. If they will work with us, ibig sabihin na mas naging effective at maganda ang impact ng tulong ng gobyerno sa kanila sa proseso ng kanilang reintegration,” Lapeña added.

(We hope that there will come a time that we will be able to employ former rebels to join the agency. If they will work with us, it only means that the help poured to them during their reintegration was effective and left an impact.)

The TESDA amid pandemic, through its regional offices, has never stopped rolling out various activities in support to President Rodrigo Duterte’s advocacy in reintegrating rebel returnees, drug surrenderers, Indigenous Peoples (IPs), and other special clients back to the society by providing access to quality technical-vocational education and training. (MDCT/PIA-2)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1068491