IBA, Zambales (PIA) — A total of 54 welding trainees from Masinloc and Sta. Cruz, Zambales received wages under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The activity supported beneficiaries who completed skills training under the Shielded Metal Arc Welding National Certificate II (SMAW NC II) program of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) which combined technical instruction with temporary wage employment to help improve employability.
DOLE Zambales Field Office Chief Reynante Lugtu said the initiative highlighted the value of convergence among government agencies and local government units (LGUs).
“The TUPAD-TESDA Convergence Project stands as a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when opportunity, partnership and purpose come together,” he said.
Lugtu added that the SMAW NC II training, led by the TESDA Provincial Training Center–Iba with the support of the municipal governments of Masinloc and Sta. Cruz, enabled beneficiaries to gain both technical skills and increased confidence as they prepare for future employment.
A total of 54 welding trainees from Masinloc and Sta. Cruz, Zambales receive wages under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers program of the Department of Labor and Employment. (DOLE)
The 30-day training, conducted from November 12 to December 18, 2025, was completed by 26 participants from Masinloc and 28 from Sta. Cruz in partnership with the TESDA Zambales.
Each beneficiary received P17,100 in wages under the TUPAD program upon completion of the training.
The training covered basic competencies such as workplace safety practices and the proper use of hand tools, as well as core competencies that focused on welding carbon steel plates and pipes.
As part of their community involvement activities, the trainees fabricated school gates, tent frames, stage backdrops, and plant stands that were intended for public use in their respective municipalities.
TESDA Provincial Training Center–Iba Center Administrator Eugene Peñaranda said the beneficiaries were able to earn wages while undergoing skills training, making the program both a learning and livelihood opportunity.
The activity underscored the collaboration of DOLE, TESDA, and LGUs in delivering skills development, temporary employment, and community support for workers in Zambales. (CLJD/RGP, PIA Region 3-Zambales)
