Aeta graduates prepare for their dance number. Contributed photo
BALANGA CITY — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority provincial office here announced Monday that 24 members of the Aeta tribe in Dinalupihan, Bataan graduated from a TESDA course.
TESDA provincial director Julie Ann Banganan said that more women natives joined the training with 22 of them and only two men.
The Aetas, belonging to the Ambala Tribe in Barangay Bayan-Bayanan, finished the course on Plant Crops (leading to Agricultural Crops Production NC-II) at the D’ Planners Training Center.
They were TESDA scholars under the Special Training Employment Program, funded by Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman, Banganan said.
Roman, graduation guest speaker, said that she was glad that they were able to provide skills training and upgrading to the Aeta group in Dinalupihan.
She said that trainees need not go to TESDA centers but were trained right in their respective communities. “We aimed to provide them with skills when it comes to innovative and effective planting methods, and we brought it through this scholarship program,” the congresswoman said.
Roman noted that more women joined the training and were excited to plant and learn how to grow their crops. She expressed the hope that this course will be productive and help more indigenous people.
Lawyer Tony Boy Roman accompanied his sister Geraldine.
Maj. Gen. Jesus Fajardo, AFP (Ret), TESDA 3 regional director, thanked Roman for choosing the Aetas to be some of her scholars through TESDA Bataan.
He said that the scholars were provided free training, one-year accident insurance, internet and health and personal protective equipment allowance and daily allowance.
Fajardo said the training of the natives was consonant to the agency’s new slogan “TESDA Abot Lahat” created by Secretary Isidro Lapena, TESDA director-general, of reaching out to people even in remote areas.
He thanked Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela Garcia and Vice-Mayor Renato Matawaran for helping the IPs.
TESDA deputy director general for partnerships and linkages Aniceto “John” Bertiz III, who served as one of the guest speakers, said that the agency pursues its mandate on the provision of quality education and training through the “Kaalam, Kakayahan at Kabuhayan” projects.
The Aeta Ambala group in their colourful costume showcased their other talent through dance performance to the folk music “Magtanim ay di Biro,” said Sierra Flores of TESDA–Bataan.
