After completing their Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) training, a total of 207 graduates from Kalibo, Aklan expressed their gratitude to Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano for their support in helping them achieve educational success on Friday, June 21, 2024
The students underwent training under TESDA’s Special Training for Employment Program (STEP).
Held at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Aklan District Jail, 50 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) received toolkits from the Cayetanos to jumpstart their application of what they had learned during their program.
They also earned their National Certification Level II (NC II) in Organic Production and Agricultural Crop Production.
Vivencio Bautista, 47 and one of the graduates of the Organic Production course, thanked the sibling senators for their support during his journey.
“Masaya po ang experience namin. Noong nag-aaral po kami, nadevelop ang pagtutulungan namin. Bilang isang ama na wala nang pamilya, napakalaking tulong po nito. Maraming salamat po sa inyo,” Bautista said.
Later that day, 157 more students, who are farmers, received another batch of toolkits from the Cayetanos at Barangay Tagas Covered Court in Tangalan, Aklan. These students also graduated from the same certification program.
The successful distribution of toolkits in Aklan was made possible by the joint efforts of the offices of both senators in coordination with Aklan Mayor Juris Sucro, Aklan Second District Representative Teodorico Haresco Jr., and BJMP Chief Warden Senior Inspector Francis Janagap.
“On behalf of the BJMP Aklan family, nagpapasalamat po kami sa tulong ninyo. Hopefully, in the near future, we can still have more training para po sa ating mga PDLs,” Janagap said.
Witnessing another milestone
The offices of the sibling senators were also invited by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Special Concerns Ted Gatchalian to witness the graduation ceremony of 397 students from Nueva Ecija, on the same day.
They completed the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) at Jet Technological Institute, earning NC II in Wellness Massage and NC III in Bookkeeping and Events Management Services.
In attendance at the ceremony were TESDA Provincial Director Alvin Yturralde, Bongabon Mayor Ricardo Padilla, and Vice Mayor Christian Binuya.
The sibling senators have long advocated their partnership with TESDA, striving to inform the public about the importance of certification and its potential to pave the way for success, especially for individuals pursuing non-traditional career paths.
