TESDA, DAR push programs to fight poverty, insurgency

KORONADAL CITY  – Two government agencies tasked to help improve lives of Filipino through various programs have joined together to support farmers who received lands from the government by providing them livelihood trainings.

These agencies are the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA 12) AND Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Soccsksargen.

DAR have already distributed Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) to farmer beneficiaries making them legitimate landowner through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and TESDA will provide the beneficiaries with skills training.

TESDA-12 Regional Director Rafael Y. Abrogar II, in a meeting with DAR officials, said his office is ready to train CARP beneficiaries so they will become even more productive.

“The lot that given to these agrarian reform beneficiaries must be complemented with the appropriate skills for agriculture,” Abrogar said.

“TESDA will equip them with skills to boost their capacities as farmers and for the farm skilled workers, increase productivity and sustain their income for their needs,” he added.

Felix Aguhob, DAR 12 regional director, welcomed the idea of TESDA to have a convergence for the programs and projects in the region.

“We have more plans and projects for the community and we should converge our programs…this is the right time,” Aguhob said.

Both Abrogar and Aguhob agreed that providing the CARP beneficiaries skills training will bring them out of recruitment of communist rebels in the countryside.

TESDA chairs the government’s “Whole of the Nation Approach which is the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster.” (Karl Mike Tabingo)