TAGUIG CITY -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has allotted a total of PhP30-million worth of scholarship funds for the skills training to residents of areas affected by the recent 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Northern Luzon.

TESDA Director General Danilo P. Cruz underscored that these scholarship funds will be allocated under the training-cum-production on construction-related courses, such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing, among others.

“These trainings are vital for the residents of earthquake-stricken areas. They will be able to build their own houses as well as use the skills they acquire to find jobs and earn a living,” he said.

Director General Cruz has earlier instructed TESDA field offices in Regions I and II and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to activate their respective disaster teams and assist in the rehabilitation efforts in Northern Luzon through its “TESDAmayan” program.

He has also directed them to coordinate with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and work on a partnership through the DOLE TUPAD Program to ensure that trainees are provided with allowances while they are undergoing training-cum-production.

The “TESDAmayan” is the agency’s banner program that aims to assist communities affected by any crisis or emergencies brought about by natural calamities, disasters, or any other untoward incidents which cause displacement to affected residents.

These TESDA field offices have provided interventions in affected areas of the earthquake. The CAR Regional Office has donated PhP146,400 cash, boxes of groceries and used clothes, and deployed augmentation teams to assist in the clearing operations in Abra and Ifugao.

Regions I and II and the National Capital Region (NCR) have started mobilizing their resources, particularly trainers who will help in the repair and rehabilitation of damaged houses and implementation of construction-related trainings, in the affected areas.

Cruz pointed out that TESDA is ready to add additional funding for the immediate implementation of scholarship programs in the areas affected by the recent earthquake.

“TESDA is here to provide relevant training programs as part of the collective action to support the rehabilitation of these disaster-stricken areas and ensure the well-being of all affected Filipinos,” Cruz said. (TESDA)