TESDA to offer more training courses

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will be offering more courses next year with the completion of its provincial training center in Virac.

TESDA officer-in-charge Rodolfo Benemerito told the Tribune recently that among the technical and vocational courses being considered for inclusion in its program are electronics, automotive repair, lathe machine operation and garments making.

Each course will run for a total of 540 hours, with a maximum of 25 and a minimum of 15 enrollees each batch. He said three batches can be served within a year for each course.

On the other hand, Benemerito stated that employees of local government units desiring to study further in this field may avail of the Local Government Skilled Workers Scholarship program being offered by the Civil Service Commission, which would provide for training costs.

He said that such a training for LGU workers, grouped together at a minimum of 15 for each special class, would last three months with credits for the trainings held Monday to Friday at the same time of normal office hours.

This year, more than 50 enrollees have finished or are undergoing trainings in Food Trades, Electric Arc Welding and Building Wiring Electrician, he bared. Some of the trainees are scholars of the LGUs, which provided for their accommodation and transportation expenses. The  municipal government of Panganiban reportedly rented a house for its scholars and paid for their uniform, insurance and one-time trade testing fee of P350.00.

The first batch in the Food Trades included Ma. Rizza E. Alcantara, Maricel Bernardo, Salve N. Eusebio, Filipina I. Ruelo, Maricel B. Silva and Gladys V. Trinidad, all of Pandan; Catherine G. Aguilar, Hazel A. Almojuela, Amelia T. Guitierez and Evelyn Tenerife of Virac; Junie Potenciano and Raquel A. Robles of Panganiban; and, Purificacion T. Tabo and Lourdes E. Tenerife of San Andres. They finished the course last month after 120 hours of training.

Enrolled in Electric Arc Welding, which started October 2 and will end December 15, are Pedro de la Cruz, Jr., and Eddie Zuniega of Panganiban; Arnaldo Garcia, Jr., Joselito Icaranom, Honorio Isorena, Jr., Joeffrey Lopez and Ruben Zuniega of Pandan; Cliff Hardinero, Salvador Tabuzo and Randall Quijano of Virac; and, Rey Miranda of Legazpi City, Joseph Segismundo of Bagamanoc, Zander Tatel of Baras, and Elmer Tellerva of Viga.