The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is ready to help the government in its efforts to rehabilitate war-torn Marawi City through the agency’s various programs.

Last July 19, the Marawi Crisis Massive Skills Training for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) was launched at the Iligan City National High School in Mahayahay, Iligan City.

Through the program, residents of Marawi may avail of the agency’s free courses being offered such as Phase 1 (Livelihood/Short Courses) and Phase 2 (Construction-related and other in-demand courses).

Other courses in the training programs under Phase 1 are Massage Therapy, Food Processing, Bread and Pastry Production, Cookery, Haircutting and Beauty Care. Under Phase 2, the courses are Carpentry, Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Pipefitting, Masonry, Plumbing and Welding.

TESDA said that the program is expected to benefit some 4,500 beneficiaries in Iligan City while 900 others from Cagayan de Oro City.

At the same time, the agency will introduce the TESDA Emergency Program for TVET Trainers and Assessors (TEPTTA) to train assessors and trainers under the technical-vocational project.

TESDA is eyeing 3,004 trainers and 2,725 assessors while 4,735 trainers are expected to renew their National TVET Trainers Certificate (NTTC).

Also, agency will turn-over the Mobile Training Laboratory (MTL) facilities in remote areas nationwide such as Apayao, Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Zamboanga del Norte, Camiguin, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Northern Cotabato and Saranggani.

Free courses under the training programs of the MTL are Appliance Repair, Bread and Pastry, Cookery, Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Food Processing, Plumbing and Small Engine Repair.

“The Mobile Training Laboratory (MTL) is a training delivery model designed to implement technology-based training programs in far-flung communities of the country’s 10 poorest provinces in terms of poverty incidence through portable boxes containing tools and equipment, mock-ups and training packages in designated places in the community as a venue of training. A total of sixty (60) MTLs at six (6) MTLs for each province shall be fabricated and delivered to the beneficiary provinces,” according to MTL’s program description.

Last July 16, the agency started its Psychosocial Intervention for the IDP Youth Project for 2,000 evacuees in Iligan City. Under the project, the youth whose ages range from 15 to 20 years old will be given cultural integration, Islamic teachings, peace advocacy and livelihood training so that they would forget their traumatic experience about the war.

“Our brothers and sisters are scared, their spirits broken. To rebuild Mindanao and re-establish the community’s faith in law and order, we need to start with treating emotional wounds. People’s damaged psychological conditions, whether they care to admit them or not, will need to be addressed before the actual rebuilding can begin,” said TESDA Director General, Secretary Guiling “Gene” Mamondiong.