The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Cordillera Regional Office (TESDA-CAR) is now in possession of 2,711 tool kits for distribution to its scholars.

Stephanie Nicole Peligman, TESDA-CAR information officer, on Tuesday said the tool kits are for the agency’s 2019 Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) scholars who graduated in the 16 short courses that include swine production, fertilizer production, production of various concoctions, organic hog raising, raising of organic small ruminant, carpentry, tile setting, plaster concrete and masonry surface, pre-cast balusters, and handrail installation.

Scholars who finished facial treatment, facial make-up, shielded metal arc welding, electrical installation and maintenance, bread and pastry production, bread making, pastry making, cake making, and cold meal preparation also have their tool kits.

Peligman said the TESDA provincial offices have started to release tool kits to the beneficiaries last February 22. The releasing is done per batch to avoid mass gathering.

STEP is a community-based training program that seeks to address the specific skills needed in the communities. It is among TESDA’s scholarship programs that aim to provide free quality technical vocational education and training to deserving beneficiaries in the country

The skills and tool kits together will enable the scholars to generate income on their own thru entrepreneurial, self-employment, and service-oriented activities.

Earlier, former TESDA-Benguet provincial director Vilma Cabrera said they will start the release of the tool kits containing the start-up materials.

“The content will depend on the skills training they finished. For those who finished the bread and pastry skills training, they will get several items one of which is a big oven, a welding machine for those who finished metal act welding course, a sprayer for those who finished crop production, and more (which) they will need to earn a living,” she said.

Cabrera said the government aims to provide holistic assistance to the people by giving free training to advance the skills and logistical support in terms of supplies and materials.

“The tool kits are provided by the government thru TESDA for the scholars of the STEP program which is aside from the free training and the PHP160 per day allowance the scholars received while completing their training,” she said.

Cabrera also said for 2021, several scholarship programs are still up for grabs to Filipinos of all ages.

“For the diploma program or the three years program, we have PHP80 million budget support. This is aside from the short courses where we also give scholarships,” she said. (PNA)