By Mary May A. Abellon
DIPOLOG CITY – One hundred thirty two out-of-school youths (OSY) undergoing training under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) have received financial aid from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Zamboanga del Norte recently.
These youths have enrolled in short term courses such as plumbing, bartending, food processing, housekeeping, shielded metal arc welding and heavy equipment operation at the Livelihood Skills Development Enhancement Center (LSDEC) in barangay Galas this city. DOLE gave a total of P 268, 224 as training allowance to the trainees.
DOLE Provincial Director Henry P. Tianero turned-over the checks to the city government through Mayor Evelyn T. Uy who, in turn, handed the checks to the SPES grantees. Each grantee received P2,032.
LSDEC is a technical skills training facility that is operated, maintained and managed by the city government.
The facility seeks to develop and enhance employable skills among OSYs and to assist them in marketing their products.
LSDEC has forged partnerships with national and international agencies such as the DOLE, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Regional Fisheries Livelihood Program of the UN-Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) like the Zamboanga del Norte Federation of Parents’ Association (ZNFEPA).
Tianero also expressed his gratitude to Mayor Uy for always looking for ways and strategies to develop the youths in the area. (PIA9)