Former drug dependents here who are graduates of the City Government of Tagum’s Seryosong Tagumenyos Ayaw ng Droga (STAND) are now equipped to unleash a new chapter in their lives as they recently completed technical skills training of the local government through the City Literacy Coordinating Council.
A total of 92 former drug dependents are now holding mastery certificates on masonry, plumbing and electrical skills after hurdling the rigorous training conducted by the city government under the leadership of Mayor Allan L. Rellon, with funding grants from the National Literacy Coordinating Council of the Department of Education.
20 graduates for masonry came from barangay Pagsabangan, 28 from barangay Liboganon, 25 graduates of plumbing were from barangay Visayan Village, and 19 graduates for Electrical came from barangay New Balamban.
The skills training program is part of the many assistance package it promised to drug dependents who surrendered to the folds of the government during the kick-off of the national government’s massive anti-illegal drugs campaign.
Meanwhile, the absorption of Tagumenyos in the labor force is making waves, thanks to JobStart Philippines Program which is a joint venture by the Department of Labor and Employment and the City Government of Tagum funded by the Government of Canada.
The total graduates for the wave 2 is 105 of which, 69 received the certificate of completion. 18 graduates completed the full cycle and absorbed by partner employers, 15 of them completed the full cycle and found jobs in another companies, 28 are for referral and 8 of them shall proceed to the other programs of DOLE.
36 graduates also received certificate of participation, of which 23 found jobs after the life skills training, 12 found jobs after the technical training, and 1 graduate is for referral under the DOLE program. With this, Jobstart got 96.33% placement rate and 100% performance rate.
“So much is out there for you to explore, [for your] challenges, for you to achieve. Go for it. Ayaw lang pag settle diri, (Don’t settle here] go for the highest that you could achieve with the talents and abilities that have been given to you. I’m sure that the life skills training taught you how to be ready before entering the workforce.”, welcomes Atty. Evelyn Ramos, the Assistant Regional Director of the Department of Labor and Employment Region XI during the wave 2 of Jobstart graduation last Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at the New City Hall Atrium.
Ms. Rogeneth P. Llanos, the Public Education and Employment Services Office manager thanked the four major partners of the program which are ASM Foods who absorbed 5 trainees; Hijo Resources Corporation got 10 trainees, Nadela Business Center with 4, and LTS Pinnacle Holdings with 61 absorbed trainees, and the other partner employers for making the program a success.
A memorandum of agreement between the companies and the City Government of Tagum took place to strengthen the commitment of the participating companies in contributing to the improvement of employment rate in Tagum and to also contribute through their social corporate responsibilities. Ziyarah Manalo/CIO Tagum
