Sec Joel Villanueva takes TESDA services to Cavite
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva motored to three areas in Cavite on August 6, handing out scholarship vouchers to the youth and giving free grooming services to the residents. As he led in welcoming the new scholars, Villanueva also congratulated the new batches of graduates who have completed their respective technical vocational training courses. At the Lyceum of the Philippines University in General Trias, Cavite, Villanueva treated the audience with the "Idol ko si Chef, Idol ko si Sec Skills Showdown," which pitted his barista skills with that of celebrity chef Boy Logro. Both Villanueva and Logro are holders of TESDA's National Certificate. "We can best help spread the good word about tech-voc by showing how to do it, and how it has brought its graduates to the path of success," he said. In the town plaza in Alfonso, Cavite, Villanueva led in awarding the certificate of commitment to 100 scholars under the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP). Simultaneously, 130 trainees were recognized in a graduation ceremony for completing their tech-voc courses. Five graduates were awarded with the medal of excellence. The graduates finished their courses on Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Electrical Installation, Automotive Servicing and Solar Lamp Assembly. Solar Lamp Assembly is among the new training courses of TESDA, which uses recycled materials and designed to be adapted by certain communities as part of their livelihood project. Villanueva earlier took a crash course on assembling a circuit board to be used in the lamp. Many units of the lamps assembled by TESDA graduates are now being used in communities, especially those hit by typhoons in the provinces. Visiting Barangay Southville in Trece Martires City, the TESDA chief awarded the certificate of commitment for scholarships under the STEP to 100 youths. "In a month or two, more youth will emerge from this province who are National Certificate holders and are skilled and confident to try their fate in the world of work," Villanueva said. As a treat to the residents, tech-voc graduates displayed their skills by giving free haircut and massage. A team of experts also gave free appliances repair services. END