KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/22 June) — At least 25 rubber technicians from the Municipal Agriculture Office in Makilala, North Cotabato will undergo training on rubber production at the town’s newly opened Vocational and Technical Skills Training Center.
The training center on rubber production, considered the country’s first, can accommodate at least 50 students, according to Makilala Mayor Rudy Caoagdan.
The training starts on June 25, Caoagdan said.
Courses at the training center focus on rubber production and are accredited by the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in Region 12, the mayor said.
Tesda-12 regional director Zios Ampoas said the center would provide appropriate skills and technology that will boost the rubber industry in the province.
He said the plan to put up the center was the idea of the local government.
The project study started in late 2010 and underwent series of consultations with various sectors.
During the study, he said, the agency created training regulations for competencies that must be acquired by a rubber tapper.
Tesda employs experts from the Department of Agriculture and other institutions to teach the needed skills.
Ampoas is hopeful the facility would produce skilled workers the industry needs to keep it going.
“The opportunity is there. We have limited products of rubber. So there’s a need to assist our rubber industry by providing them the needed technology and skills,” he said. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)