VIGAN CITY, Aug. 29 (PIA) -- In celebration of the 27th anniversary of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), provincial and regional offices simultaneously conducted various activities under the TESDA's TESDAmayan project on Friday.

The TESDA in Ilocos Sur distributed food packs, kitchen condiments, rice, toiletries and face masks to the 57 families in barangay Dammay, Santa.

At least 201 residents benefitted from these assistance.

They also conducted Brigada Eskwela at the Dammay Elementary School and distributed reading materials and coloring books.

Dammay, is one of the remote island barangays in Santa.

From barangay Rancho, TESDA personnel reached the island in 15 minutes by motorized banca.

In her message, TESDA-Ilocos Sur Provincial Director Socorro Galanto said the TESDA may come back to the island and conduct skills training to introduce new skills and/or develop the skills of the residents based on the resources they have in the community.

Leonardo Canaria, farmer and fisherfolk who provides for his family of four, said living in an island is hard especially during rainy seasons when they can’t go out to the market to buy food.

“Although our island is rich in agricultural products, fruits and vegetables, we would like to learn more about organic farming as it uses traditional farm practices and there is a higher demand for organically produced crops,” he said.

Elsie Alamani, principal of Dammay Elementary School, likewise thanked the TESDA for reaching communities and/or schools from remote areas to share their resources.

“We thank the TESDA for helping us in our Brigada Eskwela and for these reading materials and coloring books. For some these may be small but great things start from small things and may this spirit be felt by our constituents at Dammay that they are really loved and attended to,” she said.

TESDA Ilocos Sur Information Officer Wendell Botacion said the activity was in collaboration with the local government unit of Santa, Philippine Dental Association, Rotary Club-Magsingal in Ilocos Sur, Tagudin Institute of Science and Technology, and STI-Vigan. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)