Dipolog City (PIA) – In a bid to expand skill enhancement opportunities for the local community, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Office organized a training fair on February 16 at the Zamboanga del Norte Sports and Convention Center. The fair featured over 540 scholarship slots for a variety of programs.
Approximately 100 applicants participated in the fair, which showcased TESDA’s diverse programs, including Bread and Pastry Production National Certification (NC) II, Computer Systems Servicing NC II, Driving NC II, Animal Production (Poultry-Chicken) NC II, Agricultural Crops Production NC II, Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II, Food and Beverage Services NC II, Housekeeping NC II, and Bartending NC II.
Aljean S. Garing, a 20-year-old applying for a TESDA scholarship for the first time, expressed her desire to obtain her own NC-II after witnessing the opportunities it provided for her aunt.
“Sa among barangay, first ever pana siya nga gi-buildan ug school para sa TESDA. Akoang iyaan is TESDA beneficiary sauna dayon nagamit ra pud niya iyang NC II sa pag apply sa iyang work karon,” Garing said. (Our barangay just got its first ever TESDA facility. My aunt was a TESDA beneficiary, and it opened up opportunities for her when she was looking for a job.)
She also emphasized that undergoing TESDA training is a valuable use of time, particularly for individuals with idle time or out-of-school youths, as it develops practical skills beyond mere job hunting.
TESDA Provincial Director Omarkhayyam I. Dalagan encouraged current applicants to spread awareness about the scholarships to their friends and family, ensuring the full utilization of this government-funded opportunity.
He also affirmed their commitment to increasing available slots in the province to cater to the broader population.
“We will commit ourselves to providing more scholarship slot allocations for you in the hopes that you will develop the necessary skills through these government-funded scholarships,” said Dalagan.
Zamboanga del Norte stands as the largest province in the region, comprising 3 Congressional Districts, 25 municipalities, and 2 cities. (EDT/PJF/GDR-OJT/PIA9-Zamboanga del Norte)