MTESDC Gubat Technical Working Groups Plan for Quick Response Program

To help victims of the recent typhoon Milenyo, technical working groups of the Municipal Technical Education and Skills Development Committee of Gubat (MTESDC-Gubat) met on October 16, 2006 to map out quick response training cum rehabilitation skills training plan for the agriculture, social services and infrastructure/construction sectors.

During the meeting-workshop, members of the technical working groups headed by the Municipal Agricultural Officer and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer, both members of MTESDC-Gubat, identified possible interventions. Provision of seeds and fertilizers, rehabilitation of coconut, and repair and reconstruction of destroyed day care centers and municipal government buildings were among the priority interventions considered.

All interventions will have training, monitoring and assessment components. They will be implemented beginning this November 2006 and will end June 2007.

To help cushion the impact of the effects of the typhoon to the agriculture and fishery sector, the sector hardest hit by the calamity, farmers and fisherfolks will be encouraged to participate in the training cum rehab of day care centers and local government facilities while they are waiting for their crops to recover. The provision of new seeds and other farm inputs was designed to help them recover their farm productivity.

The meeting-workshop was facilitated by Ms. Rowena E. Fajardo, Gubat Community Training and Employment Coordinator, Mr. Manny P. Azusano and Miss Elizabeth L. Bornas, both personnel of TESDA Sorsogon Provincial Office.

Engr. Roan P. Espinas, Vocational School Administrator of Bulusan National Vocational Technical School, and Mr. Gregorio Tagalicud, instructor of the same school, also participated during the activity to help the technical working groups design their trainings.

Earlier, Ms. Fajardo coordinated with TESDA Sorsogon for possible training intervention that will help Gubat recover quickly from the effects of typhoon Milenyo while ensuring that those most affected have income while the municipality's economy recuperates.

A preliminary meeting between Gubat Municipal Mayor Deogracias Ramos and TESDA-Sorsogon was held on October 10, 2006 where the concept of quick response training cum rehab intervention was discussed.