RESIDENTS of Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan have been trained on various skills by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña visited the island on April 19 along with Deputy Director General Lina Sarmiento and other officials of the agency to launch the Wage-Employment and Entrepreneurial Skills Training project.

Lapeña said that the launching of the project is in line with the “TESDA Abot Lahat” campaign.

“Our kababayan in Pag-asa Island can now expect more services from the government, particularly TESDA. We are here to provide skills training which the residents can use to gain employment and earn a living,” he said.

Project WEST offers training on the assembly of solar lights and competencies on food processing, particularly sugar concentration and salting and curing.

The TESDA office in Palawan said that 44 residents underwent training.

Sarmiento said that TESDA provided a trainer on Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II and Photovoltaic Systems Installation NC II, and two trainers on Food Processing NC II.

She added that the agency is also set to conduct Special Training for Employment Program in Pag-asa Island.

The STEP is a community-based training program that seeks to address the specific skills needs of communities and promote employment, through entrepreneurial and service-oriented activities.