Benguet Prov’l Training Center project breaks ground in Kapangan
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority officials led by Secretary Isidro Lapeña with Benguet officials led by Cong. Eric Go Yap, Gov. Melchor Diclas and Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin spearhead the symbolic laying of the time capsule during the groundbreaking of the Benguet Provincial Training Center to be constructed in Kapangan, Benguet on February 11, 2021. (RMC- PIA-CAR)
KAPANGAN, Benguet, Feb. 12(PIA) — Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Isidro Lapeña and Benguet officials led by Caretaker Congressman Eric Go Yap and Governor Melchor Diclas spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony of the first Benguet Provincial Training Center (PTC) and the launching of the “TVET on Wheels” program at the municipal grounds of this town on Thursday(Feb. 11).
The three-story Benguet PTC building worth P10 million is thru the initiative of Cong. Yap while the lot located at the municipal compound was shared by the local government of Kapangan. The training center which will be strategically situated in Kapangan will serve areas not serviced by other technical vocational schools particularly in far flung barangays in the nearby municipalities of Tublay, Kibungan, Atok, and Bakun.
Lapeña expressed gladness on the groundbreaking of the new PTC in Benguet and the TVET on Wheels launching which he said are among the programs to provide services of the government to the people in far flung areas.
“I am happy that it is happening now and we will keep this running at ang serbisyo ng gobyerno ay mararamdaman dito sa bayan ng Kapangan at sa probinsya ng Benguet,” he said.
Even as the construction of the three-story building is yet to commence, the Secretary approved the manpower and budget for the operation of the Benguet PTC in a temporary facility provided by the Kapangan LGU headed by Mayor Manny Fermin.
“Sa TESDA po, dahil sa aming mandato at sa serbisyong dapat maibigay sa ating kababayan na napakarami ang nangangailangan, dahil alam naman po nating andaming mahirap na kababayan natin lalong lalo na sa malalayong lugar ay nagkaroon ang TESDA ng slogan na “Abot Lahat”, that is the reason why we are establishing these Provincial Training Centers and launching the TVET on Wheels program.”
Lapena explained that the TESDA slogan Abot Lahat aims to expand and strengthen the agencies mandate and services to all, to reach out and serve new partners and clients with a clear objective to transform and improve life for the better.
In his message, Yap said that he saw the importance of TESDA in the province after attending a graduate ceremony of TESDA scholars in La Trinidad where most of the trainees are from the capital town. This prompted him to ask the TESDA for support on how to provide more skills trainings and work for more people in Benguet particularly in the farther municipalities.
“Ito po ang unang hakbang para tulungan si Sec. Lapena para abutin ang kababayan sa Benguet, at ang provincial training center ang unang hakbang natin dahil yan po pag natayo po yan, ang kalapit bayan natin ay makakapag aral na po at matutunan pa po nila ang ibang skills at trabaho na pwede pang gawin bukod sa farming,” Yap said.
Meanwhile, the TVET on wheels or the Mobile Training Lab is the government’s response to the inadequate access of beneficiaries, thus bringing skills training program to remote areas that would increase their opportunities for employment. The Mobile Training Lab are training facilities that can be easily transported from community to community within the province.
The concept is a mobile training utilizing a bus in areas where there are requests across municipalities and barangays accessible to the vehicle. The bus will be equipped with facilities for hands-on training by a trainer on board.
The TVET on Wheels project in Benguet is a partnership thru the effort of the TESDA and the Office of Cong. Yap, who provided the bus to be converted as a mobile classroom and training center which will be going around the different province of Benguet to provide skills training to those who cannot go to the urban areas for TE SDA training.
Gov. Diclas and Mayor Fermin expressed gratitude to the TESDA and Cong. Yap for bringing about these two projects which they said will be a big help to individuals who cannot go to La Trinidad and Baguio City to access the different skills training they want and need.
Also present during the twin events were TESDA Cordillera Regional Director Dante Navarro and Benguet Director Vilma Cabrera, Vice Gov. Johnny Waguis and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, local officials of Kapangan, TESDA trainers, scholars and graduates, and other stakeholders. (JDP/ RMC- PIA CAR)
