THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority, with the help of OMA Farming School Corporation, will give free urban farming training to members of the Sangguniang Kabataan and identified households in Metro Manila.

In a memorandum of agreement signed by TESDA and OMA, 100 scholars will receive free training.

The urban farming scholars will enjoy free assessment, training support fund, one-year accident insurance coverage, internet allowance, and personal protective equipment allowance under TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program.

The joint project will start as soon as both parties have prepared the lineup of program beneficiaries.

In his speech, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña emphasized his agency’s all-out support for the government’s campaign on food sustainability amid the pandemic.

“Food sufficiency is a concern not only of the country’s agriculture areas, and rice producing regions. This is a cause of concern of all areas, including urbanized cities especially now that we are facing this pandemic,” he said.

The TESDA chief urged urban settlers to embrace the concept of urban agriculture.

OMA Farming School Corporation was the first private technical training institution to offer technical, vocational education and training in urban farming in the city of Manila.