MAGSAYSAY, Misamis Oriental (PIA) –Twenty-Five (25) residents from Barangay Mindulao comprising of former Communist Terrorist Group-New People’s Army (CTG-NPA) members, sympathizers, and Indigenous People (IP) were the first batch of enrollees for the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA)-Misamis Oriental launching of Produce Organic Concoctions and Extracts in Magsaysay, September 5.

Under TESDA-Misamis Oriental’s Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) program, former rebels (FRs) and IPs living in far-flung communities are identified by the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood, and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) and are capacitated in skills training toward better living.

With the majority of the batch being wives of farmers in Mindulao, TESDA-10 found that the community possessed agricultural resources which could be developed and utilized to produce organic concoctions and extracts.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Misamis Oriental representative Ronelyn Talibong expressed their agency’s commitment and support to the program and added that the DOLE-10 would aid the scholars in providing employment opportunities complementary to their new competencies.

Meanwhile, Mindulao Brgy Captain Camillo Ratilla, on behalf of his community shared that he is grateful for the skills training opportunity that would not only aid in their livelihoods but also protect their health.

“Ang ato taga gobyerno naabot kita na punto na tabangan ta na ma awhas sa kalisod, poverty reduction, pina-agi sa magtuon ug paghimo sa abuno ug mga protektahan ta sa mga kemikal, masalamaton ta” he said.

(Our government has reached us to help those who are struggling, poverty reduction, by training and making compost and protecting us from chemicals, we are thankful) (VPSB/PIA-Misamis Oriental)