DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Sept. 7 (PIA) -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Negros Oriental distributed more than 200 livelihood starter tool kits to graduates of technical-vocational courses in Dumaguete City.

The livelihood starter tool kits can be used as a business start-up or a device to make them more productive in their offices.

According to TESDA Provincial Director Fletcher Gumahad, the agency distributed a total of 244 tool kits.

Of the total, 72 were given to graduates of Diploma on Tourism Technology, 66 for Diploma on Software Engineering Technology, 76 for Diploma in Digital Arts Technology, and 30 for those who completed the program on Food Processing by Sugar Concentration. 

Graduates of Diploma on Tourism Technology eached received one unit of Android tablet, while the graduates of Diploma on Software Engineering Technology and Digital Arts Technology each received one unit of digitizing pen, a drawing tablet, and a portable external hard drive.

Meanwhile, graduates of Food Processing By Sugar Concentration received one unit of food processor, measuring cup, mixing bowl, chef's knife, digital weighing scale, measuring spoon, and a chopping board. 

The recipients of the livelihood kits came from private Technical-Vocational-Training (TVET) institutions that are partners of TESDA like the Metro Dumaguete College (MDC).

The distribution was part of TESDA’s activities in celebration of its 29th anniversary and in observance of the National Tech-Voc Day on Aug. 25, 2023.

The celebration dubbed “World Café of Opportunities” was also highlighted by the conduct of local jobs fair, enrollment to TESDA Programs in its partner TVET schools, and free skills demonstration such as barista services, baking and cake decorating, massage, and wellness services, among others.

Around 32 local companies and local government offices with job openings participated in the job fair.

Gumahad announced that 28 job seekers were hired on the spot during the conduct of the job fair.

“Ang atoang mga hired on the spots niabot og 28 kabuok. Mostly gud ang atong na-hired on the spot ay mga local employment (Our hired on the spots reached 28. Most of them were employed at local companies),” Gumahad said.  

With this, the TESDA provincial director expressed TESDA’s commitment to help people in enhancing their skills and in finding employment or livelihood opportunities.

He urged the public to avail of the various scholarships and trainings offered by the agency that are offered by its partner TVET institutions. (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)