THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority handed certificates of training completion to 581 trainees from three Sitios in Barangay Camagong, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte who completed their courses.

TESDA Secretary General Isidro Lapeña personally handed out Certificate of Training Completion to the graduates from Sitios Hinandayan, Mimbahandi and Salaysayon on April 13.

There were 161 graduates from Sitio Hinandayan, 277 from Sitio Mimbahandi and 143 from Sitio Salaysayon.

Barangay Camagong is considered a Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster priority barangay.

TESDA, as the lead agency of the PRLEC of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, has reached out to far-flung communities to empower residents through livelihood and other skills training.

Lapeña said that the skills obtained by the graduates can be their passports to employment or livelihood.

Lapeña added that the government hopes to transform the lives of residents in Barangay Camagong.

“You can guarantee that the knowledge and skills you obtained from the trainings will be useful. Wherever you will go, you will always bring with you the skills you have now,” Lapeña said.

Lapeña directed TESDA-Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Rey Cueva to provide toolkits for the 67 graduates who were trained in bakery production.

For the 67 graduates of Small Engine Repair and Maintenance, Lapeña said that they can put up their own repair and maintenance shop.

Meanwhile, in Sitio Salaysayon, Lapeña noted that there is a need for the local residents to have electricity. He said that the 29 graduates in Basic Solar Power Installation will be given an opportunity to apply what they have learned so that solar power can be installed in their community.

Lapeña pledged that TESDA will also train members of the community on agri-crop production to ensure that there will be a steady supply of food for the families in the area.

“The Department of Agriculture through their attached agencies like the Agricultural Training Institute and the Philippine Coconut Authority will assist us in providing you with the skills needed,” he said.