100 days of Natividad-Bautista Administration

The Islamic Council of the City of Malolos (ICCM) the first Muslim Civil Society Organization (CSO) in Bulacan witnessed Malolos’ Mayor Christian D. Natividad as he reports to the people his achievements on his first 100 days in office.

The activity was well attended by all the employees of the city hall and accredited Civil Society Organizations including the City of Malolos Muslim Consultative Council of the City of Malolos (CMMCC) which is the ICCM also renamed after they were given an Executive Order by Natividad at the duly authorized Muslim umbrella organization in the city who would be task to take care of all matters in regards to Muslim Affairs.

Hadji Yahya A. Gamor, the ICCM President and CMMCC Director along with all the officials present during the first 100 days celebration was delighted and has a lot of great expectations in the Natividad-Bautista administration with hope that all it’s programs and projects for Muslims will succeed.

One of Natividad’s promises is the building of a Madrasa or Islamic School to be situated in Bgy. San Vicente and renovation of the old Mosque whom the predominantly Maranaw brethren prays regularly.

Another is a construction of a Hospital where a particular ward will be given to Muslim patients and bazaar where Muslim entrepreneurs would regularly sell their products. The Council gave Mayor Natividad a Silver Eagle statue symbolizes their commitment of support to the Mayor. Coinciding this event, Natividad gave the Council ₱200,000 worth for the payment of the lot allotted to the Madrasa. Also present is Vice Mayor Miguel Alberto Tengco Bautista///MJ Olvina-Balaguer, 09053611058, konekted@dzmjonline.net and maryjaneolvina@gmail.com

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TESDA commits more scholarship slots for coffee farmer training

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has committed to training more coffee farmers under the agency’s joint training program with Nestlè Philippines (NPI).

TESDA Director General Danilo P. Cruz said more slots will be earmarked to train farmers in coffee production as well as to develop a pool of trainers and assessors for the coffee sub-sector

“This project is doing very well, and we will no doubt see the impact of this training on the country’s coffee production in a very short while,” he said.

“We know that upgrading the knowledge and skills of our farmers in coffee production will ultimately result in improving the quality of their products as well as improve their competitiveness,” he added.

The TESDA – NPI Partnership on Upskilling of Workers and Trainers in Coffee Production aims to promote workers’ entrepreneurship and enhance competency standards in coffee production and other related training programs.

Started in mid-2021, more than 700 farmers have so far finished their free training on Coffee Production Level II.  The training is being conducted in Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat. 

In 2021, some 473 coffee growers and coffee farm workers graduated from the training.  In 2022 so far, 230 have already finished the course, while another 268 are currently undergoing training.

TESDA targets to produce more farmer-beneficiaries through the continued implementation of the joint program.

“We have found a worthwhile partner in Nestlè Philippines to help us further strengthen the country’s coffee industry,” added the TESDA chief.

The Coffee Production Level II training lasts for 176 hours or 25 days, and is implemented under the TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program – Program on Accelerating Farm School Establishment.

The enterprise-based training is being done through a combination of face-to-face and distance learning, and includes topics on modern coffee-growing techniques and entrepreneurship. 

Training is being conducted at the Bukidnon Integrated Coffee Center (BIGCC) in Malaybalay City as well as at the TESDA Provincial Training Center – Sultan Kudarat.

Nestlè Philippines has provided experts, particularly agronomists, to help TESDA develop training regulations, competency standards, and competency assessment tools.

The company identifies the farmer-beneficiaries for the project and provides each a coffee starter toolkit.  The kit includes workbooks, record books, visual aids and other materials for the training.

As part of the project, Nestlè Philippines will also “adopt” a TESDA agricultural school where coffee trees are incubated and will purchase the produce of these trees from the farmers. (30)

CAR trainer is 2022 TESDA Tagsanay Award winner

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) machining trainer Noriel K. Ramos was conferred as the 2022 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Tagsanay Award winner in a ceremony held in Taguig last Sept. 27.

First runner-up was Bicol’s Regina F. Valencia who also bagged the “Best Trainer in Panel Interview” special award.  Mateo A. Alin Jr. of Cebu came second runner-up and earned the “Best Trainer in Conducting Interview” and “Enhancement of Training Package” awards.

“It is important to remember that our Filipino tech-voc trainers are among the vital links in the development of the country’s human resources,” said TESDA Deputy Director General Rosanna A. Urdaneta, on behalf of the agency’s Director General Danilo P. Cruz.

“The Tagsanay Award may only be an annual event but it is essential to give recognition to our tech-voc trainers who have dedicated their time and effort to share their knowledge, skills, and expertise with our learners,” she added.

Ramos, who teaches at the Regional Training Center – Baguio, received the majority of the special awards like “Best Trainer in Portfolio”, “Computer-Based Examination”, “Experience Sharing” and shared the “Best Trainer in Activity-Based Assessment” award with Rafael M. Decena Jr. of Quezon National Agricultural School.

Valencia is a tech-voc trainer at the Universidad de Sta. Isabel de Naga, while Alin Jr. is from the TESDA Regional Training Center – Cebu.

The Tagsanay Award is an annual celebration that aims to recognize and commend the contributions of technical vocational education and training (TVET) trainers in public and private technical vocational institutions across the country.  It includes incentives like cash prizes, plaques of excellence, and certificates of distinction.  

The Award’s eight finalists, hailing from regions I, II, IV-A, V, VII, XI, CARAGA, and CAR, were joined by their respective institution administrators and their areas’ TESDA provincial and regional directors.

National TVET Trainer’s Academy (NTTA) Advisory Council Chairperson Antonio L. Sayo, and Vice President for Academic Affairs of Marikina Polytechnic College Vilma J. Sugay were among the distinguished guests.

In his solidarity message, NTTA Chairperson Sayo expressed his commitment to bridging the private and public sectors.

The awarding ceremony concluded with a message from Mr. Ramos imparting insightful and inspiring experiences as a TVET Trainer, “Paghusayan natin ang pagtuturo para hindi manakawan ng kinabukasan ang kabataan.”

Along with TESDA DDG Urdaneta, DDG Aniceto D. Bertiz III, DDG Tonisito M.C. Umali, DDG Josefino I. Torres, National Institute for Technical Education and Skills Development (NITESD) Executive Director David B. Bungallon, and other NITESD officials were also present during the awarding.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last two award ceremonies were done virtually.  More relaxed restrictions allowed participants to be physically present for this year’s event, which was sponsored in part by Samsung Philippines. (30)