CTECs of Rizal visit Bahay Pagbabago in Bataan

By Sierra E. Flores

TESD Specialist II/CBT/CTEC Focal

The Community Training and Education Coordinators (CTECs) of Rizal in Region IV-A, together with the employees of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) of same province, has visited and conducted benchmarking at the Bahay Pagbabago in Dinalupihan, Bataan last March 5, 2019.

Hector Lintag, Public Employment Service Office Manager and CTEC of Dinalupihan, Bataan, who warmly welcomed the guests and participants, said that they are indeed delighted to have visitors from other Region. He informed that they also have visitors who came from Davao in Mindanao and other provinces in Luzon.

Lintag said that this is a good indication that their program for the drug surrenderees are effective since it became known and was acknowledged not only in Region 3 but in other parts of the country.

Ma. Ingrid DS. Sanga, TESD Specialist and Community-Based Training focal of TESDA Rizal, said that the objective of the visit is to witness and also to benchmark on one of the best practices in terms of community services and training programs of Bataan.

Virginia B. Bondoc, Ed. D., TESDA Bataan Provincial Director, informed that the program was made possible thru the partnership with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the one who funded the program; Dinalupihan Municipal Government, for the coordination among concerned agencies and fast implementation of the project; Dinalupihan Philippine National Police (PNP), for the safety and security of the drug surrenderees and people in the community; and TESDA Bataan, for the provision of quality technical vocational education and skills training.

Angela Garcia, Mayor of Dinalupihan, informed that long before the order of President Rodrigo Duterte on the creation of reformation centers in all provinces in the country, Dinalupihan PNP already have the Bahay Pagbabago that cater those persons with minimal case but willing to be rehabilitated.

She said that in this updated rehabilitation program, drug surrenderees able to acquire not only knowledge and skills training but also spiritual and social responsibility enlightenment. They also avail medical check ups and able to enjoy recreational activities inside the reformation center.

55 drug surrenderees were trained for Pipefitting and Scaffold Erection during the said visit, and graduated last March 19, 2019.