GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 10 Oct) – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has allocated an initial P2 million in scholarship grant for the newly opened Provincial Training Center in Malapatan town, Sarangani province.
Rafael Abrogar II, TESDA-Region 12 director, said Thursday said such funding was committed by their central office to facilitate the immediate operationalization of the training facility.
He said the grant will be utilized for the rollout of the agency’s free skills training scholarship programs in the area.
Among the initial courses that will be offered at the training center are cookery, shielded metal arc welding, automotive and driving.
“The training center will start its operations soon and the allocation of the scholarship slots will not be selective but it will be opened to everyone,” he said in a statement.
The training center, which was built in partnership with the municipal government, was formally unveiled last Sept. 27.
It already received its program certificate on Technical and Vocational Education and Training or TVET registration issued by the TESDA director general, Secretary Isidro Lapeña.
Aboragar said the facility will mainly prioritize residents of Sarangani but those from other areas may also avail of its free training programs.
To further enhance its operations, he said the provincial government of Sarangani committed to construct a dormitory at the training center compound that will house trainees coming from far-flung areas.
The Provincial Training Center in Malapatan is the first that opened this year in Region 12.
TESDA-12 is pushing for the opening before the end of the year of three more facilities in the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato. (MindaNews)