THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority recently broke ground for the Zapanta Valley Enterprise Center that will be established in Barangay Bangayan, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte.

TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña led the groundbreaking ceremony. He later visited the Zapanta Valley Agri-Tourism Enterprise Village and led the awarding of certificates to  residents who completed the skills training provided by TESDA in partnership with the provincial government.

The TESDA chief said that the establishment of Zapanta Valley Enterprise Center is one of the priority projects of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood, and Employment Cluster.

“This project aims to provide livelihood opportunities to local residents of Barangay Bangayan. I would like to thank all the PRLEC member-agencies and our local government units for showing what convergence and whole-of-the-nation approach can accomplish,” Lapeña said.

THE PRLEC also plans to establish a demo farm with a learning site and Gulayan Village inside the Zapanta Valley Agri-Tourism Enterprise Village.

Datu Lando Anlagan, a tribal leader, shared that their community used to be a stronghold of the communist group.

“This used to be a communal farm. We are dictated on what to plant, what crops to propagate.  We do not benefit from the harvest, only the rebels. We are very thankful that this day has arrived and finally, we are able to use our land,” he said.