Members of three indigenous peoples (IP) groups in Nueva Ecija have been empowered to become competitive and productive individuals through skills training.

The Schools Division Office (SDO)-Nueva Ecija, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the local government unit of Carranglan, has been offering skills training to the IPs to support their sustainable development.

At present, a total of 43 IPs belonging to the Ibaloi, Kalanguya and Kankanaey ethnic groups in the town are taking up technical-vocational courses, such as dressmaking and welding under the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) curriculum program.

Carranglan Vice Mayor Ricardo Manucdoc said they requested a room at the Kalanguya School of Heritage and Living Tradition to be used for the training of the IPs.

“Nanghiram tayo ng isang abandonadong room, inayos natin, ginawa nating disente para mahikayat natin ang ating mga IPs na mag-aral sa ALS (We asked for an abandoned room. We fixed it and transformed into a decent one to encourage our IPs to study ALS),” Manucdoc said.

He said the move is part of their program to provide livelihood to the IPs in their communities.

Dr. Jayne Garcia, chief of the Curriculum Implementation Division of SDO-Nueva Ecija, said they are promoting such initiatives to help the IPs to uplift their economic status.

“At present, isinasagawa ang education skills training sa IPs for them to get skills with national certification (At present, the education skills training is being conducted for IPs for them to get skills with national certification),” Garcia said.

After the completion of the skills training, successful IP graduates will be provided with a National Certificate (NC) and Certificate of Competency (COC).

Elizabeth Cornelio Sumacay, a 63-year-old IP group member taking up a dressmaking course, is thankful for the opportunity to learn new skills.

“Naisipan naming na mag-enroll kasi kaming IP ay hindi nakapag-aral, gusto naming matuto ng tulad nito (We decided to enroll because we, the IPs, were not able to study and we want to learn such like this),” Sumacay said.

Mario Gammad Soriano said he will study welding to get a job.

“Kasi, pag nag-aapply ako, kailangan ng certificate. Kaya nun malaman ko na meron palang program ang ALS at TESDA, dali po akong nag-enroll (Because when I apply, there is a need for a certificate. Thus, when I found out that there is a program of ALS and TESDA, I immediately enrolled),” Soriano said. (PNA)