A total of 400 scholars from Albay province received their training certificates from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in a ceremony held in this city on Friday afternoon.

In her message, TESDA-Albay Director Mariglo Macabuhay-Sese said the graduation “opens opportunities” for the scholars after completing their technical courses.

“We hope that the skills and knowledge you gained will help not just yourself, but for the welfare of your family,” Sese said.

The TESDA training was funded by the Ako Bicol Party-List (AKB).

The scholars took up courses in heavy equipment operation and welding, with National Competency (NC) Level II.

AKB Rep. Raul Jill Bongalon, who graced the event, said more than 10,000 slots for technical and vocational courses are available under TESDA for the Bicol Region.

“Compared with other infrastructure projects, soft projects, the AKB, with Rep. Elizaldy Co, prioritize this kind of training, knowledge, and experience. This will help you survive and gain a livelihood,” Bongalon told the graduates.

He said AKB is putting funds into training and livelihood programs because “we believe that this will help reduce unemployment in the region.”

Bongalon, who is also a TESDA product, noted that of the 400 graduates, half had been hired and are already helping provide income for their families.

Meanwhile, the AKB also turned over to the Tiwi Agro-Industrial School a PHP5 million solar-powered water supply system that can produce 50,000 liters of water per day.

The water system project is one of the priority projects of the AKB in areas in the region that have no water connection. To date, the AKB has donated five solar water systems to Tiwi alone.

“We want to ensure that everyone can have access to clean, safe, and potable water,” Bongalon said. (PNA)