“Nagsara man ang pinto ng oportunidad para sa amin nang magkaroon ng giyera sa Zamboanga, nagbukas naman ang isang mas magandang oportunidad para sa amin nang mabigyan kami ng pagkakataon na pag-aralin ng DSWD at CSWDO.” said Alseyd Jauhari, one of the IDPs who graduated from OLT Institute on Monday.

Alseyd, a resident of Mariki, Zamboanga City was one of the thousands who were heavily affected by the infamous Zamboanga Siege last September 2013. He used to work as a freelancer in local firms in Zamboanga. But due to lack of formal training, he could hardly get a stable job. That is why when he was offered to undergo a skills training by the City Social Welfare and Development Office, he immediately grabbed it, though he was anxious and hesitant at first.

In May 2016, some 71 Internally Displaced Persons in Zamboanga were sent to Ozamis City by the City Social Welfare and Development Office through the funding of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office IX. The IDPs had undergone training in vocational courses such as Housekeeping, Masonry, Carpentry, Cooking, Baking, among others, in two months.

One of the DSWD scholars who have been enrolled in carpentry shared their learning experiences during their 2-month stay with the Our Lady of Triumph Institute Technology, Inc., a training facility in Ozamis City that offers world-class training amenities that ensure to produce job ready trainees and skilled manpower in both domestic and overseas work places.

“Swerte kami kasi napabilang kami sa mga scholars. Tinuruan kami dito para makakuha kami ng mas magandang trabaho.”

Through the Disaster Rehabilitation Fund of DSWD which amounted to Php212,000.00, the first batch of identified IDPs were not only provided with skills training, but were also given food and shelter to cope up with their daily needs.

After the 2-month training, 71 IDPs have successfully completed their chosen tech-voc courses such as masonry, carpentry, housekeeping and cookery and baking. On July 10, a graduation ceremony was held where they were conferred with certificates of completion. The fifty five (55) masonry graduates were immediately engaged into a Contract Signing with one of the biggest construction firms in the Philippines. They are scheduled to leave for Manila on July 13 for job placement in Manila.

Present during the graduation rites were DSWD IX Asst. Regional Director for Operations Consejo Usman, Zamboanga City Local Social Welfare and Development Officer Ma. Socorro Rojas, OLT Executives Mr. and Mrs. Galileo Maglasang, TESDA and DOLE Regional Officials and DSWD X staff.

 

“This milestone would not have been possible without the interest and the sacrifices of the participants. They always have to remember that they are the ones who should really work on the change that they want to achieve. The government and other partners are only here to facilitate. And we hope with the skills that you now have, you can build a better future for yourself and your family.” Usman said in her inspirational message.

 

Another batch of Zambo IDPs is also scheduled to undergo the same skills training in the coming months.