THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority installed solar lighting systems and charging stations in Caraga Region to address the power outage caused by Typhoon Odette.

A total of 59 solar lighting systems were set up strategically in the region. TESDA said five were installed in Surigao City and Surigao Del Norte, 27 in Siargao Islands and 27 in Dinagat Islands.

The installation was a collaborative effort of the TESDA offices in Caraga, National Capital Region and Regions III, XI, and XII.

Aside from installing solar panels, TESDA Caraga, with the augmentation team from Region III, also conducted a community-based training on Solar Concept and Installation at Consuelo, Dapa, Surigao del Norte on January 12. Eighteen families attended the training.

Meanwhile, TESDA allotted P195 million-worth of scholarship for the residents of typhoon-stricken regions.

TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña shared that the field offices are laying the groundwork for a massive training on construction-related courses to help the affected residents rebuild their destroyed houses.

These construction-related training courses include Masonry, Tile Setting, Electrical Installation, Painting, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Plumbing, Carpentry and also Photovoltaic Systems Installation.

Other TESDA units also conducted community-based training in Electrical Installation and hollow-blocks making. Training in cookery and bread-making will also be offered.

“In the spirit of Bayanihan, and with TESDA’s mandate and guiding principle ‘TESDA Abot Lahat,’ we will always be ready to provide relief and rehabilitation programs for our disaster-affected kababayans so they can immediately recover from the crisis,” Lapeña said.