K+12 will not affect Pantawid Program, DSWD 7 says
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, May 7 (PIA) -- Implementing the K+12 Program will not in any way affect the continuing Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) amid concerns that schoolchildren-beneficiaries will find it harder to graduate in high school.
Aileen Lariba, DSWD 7 4Ps information officer explained that the objective of the Pantawid Program is to increase the number of schoolchildren graduating in the elementary level.
“The problem is that most of our public schoolchildren only finish up to Grade 4 and never complete elementary. So we want to address that concern,” said Lariba.
Because of poverty, over 60 percent of public pupils do not proceed to Grade 5 and 6, added Lariba.
Lariba said that by completing elementary, literacy level also increases which is one of the goals of the program.
In fact, the conditional cash transfer program assists beneficiaries to send their children to school until 14 years of age, the DSWD 7 info officer disclosed.
Lariba however, said that it does not mean that they are not encouraging the beneficiaries to let their children finish high school. “This is why we are helping graduating beneficiaries stand on their own by providing livelihood financial assistance and employment through convergence of services with other government agencies,” she said.
Pantawid household-beneficiaries can only avail of the cash grant good for five years or earlier if they no longer have children aged 14 years and below. Under the program, government provides temporary financial assistance to the identified poorest of the poor families nationwide in two basic areas of necessity which are health and education. A family-recipient gets a maximum of P1,400 monthly cash grant broken down into P500 for health and P900 for educational aid for three schoolchildren below 14 years of age divided into P300 per child.
Currently, there are 206,367 household-recipients of the program in Central Visayas of which 94,537 families are based in Cebu. (PIA-Cebu)
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TESDA intensifies programs, reaches rural areas
By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBU CITY, May 6 (PIA) -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is intensifying its goal to provide Filipinos with sufficient skills needed to become competitive skilled workers; it is now reaching out to rural areas in doing so.
In Metro Cebu and neighboring Negros Oriental, TESDA widened its services by launching the "TESDA Park and Train Mobile Vans" intended to cater to the skills training needs of the people at the grassroots and in rural areas who cannot reach TESDA training centers in urban areas.
TESDA director general Joel Villanueva and key officials from Cebu City and province launched eight TESDA Park and Train Mobile Vans at the University of Cebu – Mambaling Cebu Campus in time for its celebration of TESDA’s Trainees Day.
In his message, DG Joel Villanueva said that reaching the grassroots to uplift their status in life, specifically in the aspect of economy, is one of the visions of TESDA.
“One of the greatest visions of TESDA is to provide skills certificate to every Filipino including those belonging to the grassroots. We will reach out to those in the rural areas and provide them skills needed to develop their status in life,” Villanueva said.
The Park and Train Mobile Van aims to provide accessibility to trainees in the area where there is no TESDA training accessibility. The PTMV will be there to bring TESDA and the training skills needed in that certain area and place.
TESDA accredited and tie-up educational and technical institutions will provide skills training under the Park and Train Mobile Vans. These institutions include University of Cebu, Cebu Science of Welding Skills and Technology Incorporated (CSWTI), Center for Healthcare Professions (CHP), MGB Skills Development and Assessment Center, St. James Academy of Skills Technology, Incorporated and Benedicto College, Incorporated.
Training skills offered include commercial cooking, housekeeping services, bartending, food and beverage services, front office services, food processing, bread and pastry production, 2D animation, computer programming and welding arts. (MBCN/AAS-PIA 7, Cebu)
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TESDA connects women, uplift rural livelihood
By Amorganda A. Saluda
CEBU CITY, May 6 (PIA) ---TESDA director general Joel Villanueva says that the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will contribute to the empowerment of women by being a conduit to several women organizations in the country .
Villanueva said TESDA aims to promote women empowerment as it believes in the value and worth of women in promoting progress and development of a country.
He added that women play a crucial role in the country’s development. "There is a need for them to have access to opportunities and venues for them to enhance and showcase their abilities, capacities and skills in shaping positive changes in nation building."
“We have several TESDA-accredited women centers in the country that provide skills and livelihood as well as entrepreneurship training program for women and we have this commitment to provide substantial program in empowering women,” Villanueva declared.
The director general added that TESDA had signed a MOA with Coke Philippines in providing livelihood and small entrepreneur for women.
TESDA is also ommitted to connect and cater to the needs of farmers and fisher folks in the country, by providing them basic skills that would make their day-to-day undertakings light as well as having connections with other government agencies responsible for the concerns of farmers and fisher folks, Villanueva said.
“We have signed MOA with the Department of Agriculture for a conduct of trainings to our farmers and fisher folks even for basic skills that can help them a lot,” Villanueva said.
Training on engine repair and refrigeration are the things farmers and fisher folks mostly need. Farmers encounter engine trouble while delivering their products to the market and fisher folks will experience vessel engine trouble while sailing, Villanueva noted.
"We really want to train more farmers and fisher folks,” as he urged farmers and fishermen to avail of TESDA programs.
Villanueva was the guest speaker during the celebration of TESDA’s Trainees Day at University of Cebu – Mambaling Cebu Campus on May 4. (mbcn/AS-PIA 7, Cebu)