KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- Rafael Abrogar II, regional director of the Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA) 12, welcomes the appointment of former Sultan Kudarat Congressman and Governor Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu as the new TESDA director-general.
In a press release, Director Abrogar lauded Gov. Mangudadatu as one of the strongest allies and advocates of TESDA and its programs.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administered the oath-taking of Gov. Mangudadatu in Malacañang on June 6.
“Secretary Teng has been a very strong partner in the implementation of the TESDA programs when he was the congressman and governor of Sultan Kudarat, believing also on how TESDA programs can make a difference in the lives of his constituents,” Abrogar II said.
Abrogar noted that from 2019 to 2022, when Mangudadatu was governor of Sultan Kudarat, TESDA Dose released a total of 20,000 scholarship slots in his province, which covered training programs for different sectors.
Under the leadership of now Secretary Teng, several anti-insurgency programs were also implemented, one of which is Project TALA (TESDA Alay ay Liwanag at Asenso), which provides solar energy to underserved off-grid communities in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas of the province.
TESDA Dose reported that through this specific partnership, over 1,000 households in Sultan Kudarat were powered with solar energy after recipients were trained in photovoltaic system installation and maintenance.
Gov. Mangudadatu’s leadership allowed TESDA and other government instrumentalities to penetrate underserved areas and deliver basic services to the communities. The former governor has also been a strong advocate for the implementation of Executive Order 70 in the region, with its efforts to eliminate insurgency concerns by ensuring government services reach the isolated and marginalized, Abrogar further emphasized in the press release.
Moreover, with the support of the provincial government, TESDA was also able to spearhead the Coffee Production Level II training program in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region. The training program, implemented in partnership with Nestlé Philippines, has already trained more than 300 coffee farmers, mostly indigenous people.
With the Governor now Secretary, the battle cry of “Gobyernong Tapat at Maaasahan,” Director Abrogar II is enthusiastic that his leadership in TESDA will elevate a multitude of fellow Filipinos from poverty through skills training and technical education. (with report from TESDA Dose)
