NAPC to provide Bohol folk with skills training

Some 22,000 unemployed in Bohol will be trained in various skills, including hairdressing and reflexology, to enable the local economy to take advantage of the booming tourism in the province, a Malacañang anti-poverty body said yesterday.

Ina statement, National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) head Secretary Domingo Panganiban urged basic sectors to diversify and improve the level of skills training that will cater to the needs of the growing tourism industry in Bohol.

He said 22,180 residents of Bohol’s 1,109 barangays will benefit from the skills training project.

Speaking before participants of the Bohol Basic Sector Conference held recently at Department of Education office in Tagbilaran City, Panganiban said, "To create more employment and livelihood opportunities, the government agencies must unify efforts toward reduction of unemployment and poverty incidence in the province."

"We also need to widen access to credit and enterprise development services for poor individuals in some disadvantaged areas in Bohol," he said.

Through NAPC’s community-based monitoring system with the help of the local government, it has collated data necessary to address poverty in Bohol.

"We have to identify places in the province that need government interventions to provide poor communities priority access to education, health and employment opportunities," Panganiban said.

In the conference, Panganiban backed the proposed barangay livelihood development project of the Bohol Poverty Reduction Management Office to provide direct skills training to unemployed locals.

The training project includes manicure/pedicure, hairstyling, basic electrical repair, plumbing, therapeutic massage/reflexology, cellular phone repair, driving, small engine repair, household service, and TV/radio servicing.

Panganiban also urged basic sector organizations in the province to branch out to other fields of training like catering, hotel management and servicing, and electronic and automotive repair, to cope with the booming tourism industry.

After the conference, Panganiban inducted 53 new officers and members who will form part of the basic sectors’ training staff. – Paolo Romero