In 4th district No need for trainings from NGOs — Benhur

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Fourth District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon sees no need for non-government organizations (NGOs) to conduct livelihood trainings in his district following the controversy involving the utilization of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Salimbangon said yesterday that a training center has already been established in Curva, Medellin, which is being supervised by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 7.

Before the May 13 elections, Salimbangon’s name was dragged into the issue of releasing part of his PDAF to Aaron Foundation Philippines, Inc. based in Metro Manila.

He earlier called on the Commission on Audit (COA) to go after the foundation itself and to press charges against those responsible in the misuse of the funds if allegations are proven true. Salimbangon said he never held a single centavo from his PDAF.

During the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday, Salimbangon explained that they were just asked to identify the project for the district and the PDAF was coursed through the Technology Resource Center, a government corporation.

The TRC then chose the foundation to implement livelihood trainings, as recipient of the funds, but this reportedly did not materialize.

Salimbangon said that with the establishment of the training center in barangay Curva, Medellin, thousands of his constituents have been given employed locally and abroad. The center was opened precisely to solve the unemployment problem in the district. It caters to students from Medellin and also from neighboring towns.

Salimbangon established the Curva training center, also known as Martin Salimbangon Training Center, in honor of his father who was a former barangay captain of Curva in 2008.

The center has been operating for a year now. It offers various vocational courses for students who cannot afford to go to college.

The Wonkwang Health Science University in Korea has donated at least 20 computer units with tables and chairs and three servers to the center. The company even assured to hire qualified trainees from the center to work in Korea.

The computer literacy program itself allows students to learn the Korean language.  (FREEMAN)