Green Jobs by TESDA urged by Loren

SEN LOREN LEGARDA ASKED THE OFFICIALS OF TESDA TO PRIORITIZE GIVING “GREEN SKILLS” TRAINING AND LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE PROJECTS TO THE COUNTRY’S LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS WITH EMPHASIS ON THE FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY EIGHT (558) 4TH, 5TH AND 6TH CLASS MUNICIPALITIES.
“We should hit two birds with one stone – ensure the equitable distribution of opportunities and wealth across all provinces, cities and municipalities in the country and in the process promote environmental protection.”
Citing a water lily project where the fronds and stems are being made into slippers and a group of young women in their twenties from Ateneo who are helping augment the income of many mothers in Payatas by teaching them how to recycle rags into fashionable bags now sold in big department stores, Legarda said if these creative entrepreneurs with minimal resources were able to build their own businesses, with the help of TESDA, this can be expanded and replicated in many communities all over the country.
“Kinaya mag “green skills” ng mga taong ito na wala silang tulong galing sa gobyerno at wala silang resources”
“Let’s start it in Metro-Manila dahil dito madaming tira, madaming wastage.”
“With TESDA as the skills development authority at the forefront of a waste recycling program, our garbage problems will be solved.”
“Yung pinaka mahihirap na walang ginagawang mga Nanay sa mga barangay lalo na sa Payatas, Malabon, Pateros, Smokey Mountain sa Tondo, they can be trained by TESDA.”
Legarda inquired about TESDA’s updated status on the available and existing skills of the people relative to their localities, resources available, ongoing projects including those that lacked support but can still be revived, areas where trainors are needed to realize what kind of projects to be initiated.
TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva assured Sen Loren Legarda, Principal Author of Republic Act 9509 known as the ‘Barangay Kabuhayan Act’ that what she initiated in terms of self- employment, jobs created and lives improved since the passage of the law is constantly being monitored and supported.
Legarda concluded, “TESDA should coordinate with the Department of Trade and Industry especially with regards to its ‘One Town One Product’ program. There must be convergence of all the efforts of the different government entities and the private sector at the national and local levels.”