YESTERDAY, July 6, 2021, TESDA IV-A organizational units in the province of Batangas joined forces in helping the displaced residents of Barangays Bilibingwang and Banyaga, Agoncillo, Batangas in Coral na Munti Elementary School in the said municipality.

Due to the continuing magmatic unrest of the Taal Volcano, on July 2, 2021 the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the Alert Level of Taal Volcano to Level 3, posing health and safety hazards to the affected families of these barangays.

In response, TESDA Batangas Provincial Office headed by its Provincial Director Gerardo Mercado and RTC-Calabarzon initiated a relief operation as assistance to the displaced families.

The quick response team (QRT) was spearheaded by the RTC-Calabarzon under the leadership of its Acting Administrator, Dorie U. Gutierrez was welcomed by Hon. Daniel D. Reyes, Municipal Mayor of Agoncillo. The team distributed relief packs containing goodies and noodles to the evacuees.

The learners of RTC enrolled in Organic Production NC II assisted in this endeavor. After the distribution of relief packs, everybody gets a cup of porridge ‘lugaw’ with eggs. The OAP NC II trainees harvested the eggs from the organic farm of the institution, which serves as their training ground for acquiring skills and knowledge in agriculture production and enterprise.

Aside from this, on July 2, 2021, after harvesting the rice palay from their mini-farm, TESDA-LLDA Provincial Training Center (PTC) headed by its Center Administrator Vergel P. Soriano and TESDA Laguna Provincial Office under the leadership of Provincial Director Cariza A. Dacuma also signified to donate five (5) cavans of rice to the relocatees which constitutes an estimated amount of 9,000 up to 10,000 pesos.

The current crisis with Taal has once again accentuated the efforts of TESDANs to remain steadfast in giving better, more prominent, and broader service to the underprivileged.

The past months were indeed trying times for everyone, and the days ahead still have lots of challenges and uncertainties. However, TESDA will continue to anchor their actions to the slogan “TESDA Abot Lahat” to keep on rallying around the people they serve from all walks of life regardless of time and distance.