Sumilao, Bukidnon – The support to equip members of the community with the necessary technical skills at Sumilao, Bukidnon is on leaps and bounds! A total of 56 graduates received their National Certification Level – 2 (NC-2) in Carpentry from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) last January 31, 2017 at the Kisolon Covered Court, Kisolon, Bukidnon. The training, under the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Sustainable Livelihood Program (DSWD-SLP), is geared towards developing the technical capability of its 4Ps beneficiaries to open a wider opportunity to earn additional income.
“There are months when we don’t have enough just to get by because our farms don’t have produce yet. It is on these perilous times that we see ourselves transformed from being farmers to carpenters to earn income”, shares one of the successful trainees. In partnership with the DSWD, the International Labor Force - Skills Mastery Institute (ILF-SMI), equips trainees with the necessary skills in carpentry observing the training regulations set by TESDA.
Present during the graduation ceremony were representatives from TESDA, DSWD, ILF-SMI, and the Municipal Government of Sumilao led by the Honorable Mayor Jose Antonio A. Villo. The activity was opened with Luz P. Agcopra, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer of Sumilao, at the helm welcoming the guests, parents, graduates, and representatives of the different sectors of the town. A meaningful sharing of experience by one of the graduates, Dandy D. Sumagpi, on how he was able to appreciate the government’s comprehensive livelihood support, highlighted the activity.
Dandy D. Sumagpi, one of the DSWD 4Ps beneficiaries
who went into training on carpentry under the DSWD
Sustainable Livelihood Program (DSWD-SLP), shared his
experience on how he made despite encountering
several difficulties in the course of the training.
In response, Dr. Irene L. Floro, President and Chief Executive Officer of ILF-SMI, inspired the graduates by assuring them of her unwavering support to their employment after graduation through ILF-SMI’s employment arm, the JobFIT Workforce Solutions. “The demand for professional carpenters here and abroad is high. I challenge every graduate to hone their craft very well and aim to be the best in the field in order to attract good paying employers. We will help you land in a good job.”, a beaming Dr. Floro advised the graduates.
Dr. Irene L. Floro, President and CEO of ILF-SMI, endeared successful trainees in their tenacity to pursue their dreams of becoming productive members of the community by learning new skills such as carpentry.
The activity was also attended by Hon. Emily Okit, Vice Mayor of Sumilao, Ms. Charie Mae M. Natividad, Project Development Officer (PDO) of Sumilao, Mr. Julito U. Wapin, DSWD Provincial Cluster Coordinator, and a host of PDOs coming from other towns of Bukidnon. Hon. Emily Okit, Vice-Mayor of Sumilao, Bukidnon congratulates the graduates for braving the odds to complete rigoruous Carpentry NC-II Skills Training provided by the International Labor Force – Skills Mastery Institute under the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the DSWD.
Mr. Kaysher S. Dantalmura, DSWD-10 Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, was the keynote speaker during the said event. In his message, he reminded the graduates how fortunate they are to be given the opportunity to attend the training. According to him, many beneficiaries wanted to join it but they made the screening a notch higher to choose the most qualified only.
One with the graduates, SMI officials, representatives from LGU-Sumilao, TESDA, and the DSWD,
cap off the commencement exercise by throwing hats together, to show support and solidarity.
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