THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority intensified its delivery of construction-related courses to the indigenous people beneficiaries to help accelerate the government’s infrastructure projects.

TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña said this will help the government’s “Build Build Build” program.

“Our IPs will be very vital in the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of our government as they can be tapped as the immediate workforce for the completion of infrastructure projects in their regions,” Lapeña said.

TESDA-Davao del Norte conducted a Multipliers Skills Training in Heavy Equipment Operation NC II (Hydraulic Excavator) to 30 beneficiaries in the Municipality of Kapalong. The trainees, along with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, completed their training from November 15, 2021 until January 31, 2022.

The graduates will be recommended as the main manpower for the proposed 18-kilometer farm-to-market road project from Sitio Kapatagan, Barangay Gupitan to Aninipot Road in Davao del Norte. The training was also supported by the army engineers of the 534th Engineer Construction Batallion.

Two of the IP graduates will be directly hired by the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Lapeña said that aside from employment, the roads being built in the region will provide immediate access and connectivity to the remote residences of the IP communities.

Empowering the IPs through skills training programs is among the priorities of the TESDA-led Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.