Butuan City, September 22, 2014 – Five hundred fifty (550) Pantawid Pamilya program participants undergo free technical and vocational skills training from September to November this year at Butuan City Manpower Training Center, Brgy. Tiniwisan, this city.

The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the city Government of Butuan are working together to produce well-equipped, properly-trained, and job-ready individuals.

“We really invest to human capital because SLP aims to provide employment to 1,140 Pantawid beneficiaries to improve their status of well-being and to have a lifetime employment,” SLP Head Roy Serdeña said.

“In fact, East West Placement in Cagayan de Oro City, a recruitment agency, is now hiring for Dubai and our beneficiaries are one of those applicants,” Serdeña disclosed.

The project costs nine hundred sixty-two thousand one hundred sixty pesos (Php 962,160.00) for plumbing and electrical installation, and maintenance training.

DSWD Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli said that one of DSWD’s priorities is to capacitate and to strengthen the Pantawid beneficiaries by providing them technical and vocational skills.

“It is my pride that through SLP, they will have a secure job and will be employed locally or even work abroad,” Brigoli added.

After the teaching and coaching session given by Marlon R. Bernal, a plumbing and electrical installation and maintenance trainer, the participants will be assessed by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) representatives to test their knowledge and skills. If they pass the assessment the participants will get the National Competency (NC) II certificate which proves that a person is well-equipped and knowledgeable to the skills he or she acquired.