THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority will establish more training centers nationwide to be able to hold free skills training for more Filipino youth.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on September 30 and October 8, 2021 for the Provincial Training Center in Kidapawan in Cotabato province and PTC in Roxas in Palawan.

TESDA chief Isidro Lapeña personally led the events.

Lapeña signed a Deed of Usufruct with Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco that allots 5,000 square meters of land for the PTC that will rise at Capitol Compound in Barangay Amas. This is the second PTC in Cotabato province.

In 2020, Lapeña led the groundbreaking ceremony for the TESDA PTC in the Municipality of Pigcawayan.

“This agreement also affirms the strong commitment of the Provincial Government of Cotabato and TESDA to expand quality TVET programs and projects in the province,” he said in his speech.

Catamco thanked TESDA for continuing to provide interventions to indigenous people and former rebels amid the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the PTC in Palawan is located in Barangay Magara in the Municipality of Roxas.

Local leaders led by Gov. Jose Chavez Alvarez, Roxas Mayor Dennis Sabando, and Board Member Ma. Angela Sabando joined Lapeña during the event.

The TESDA chief said that the training center will bring the agency’s development programs to more Filipinos, particularly to former rebels and members of indigenous communities and the marginalized sector.

“Rest assured that TESDA and PRLEC will continuously serve our kababayans through livelihood and training programs to help them improve their lives,” Lapeña said.