Thirty beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Calauan, Laguna Province recently completed skills training courses under the training for work scholarship program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). During their graduation ceremony last November 18, all graduates were hired on the spot by the Makati Development Corporation (MDC).

The graduates were trained on masonry, tile setting and reinforced steel bar installation. The training started in October and was conducted in two batches. Trainees came from Pantawid Pamilya households in different barangays in the municipality.

The said training, conducted in partnership with MDC, Ayala Foundation, TESDA, Salesian of St. John Bosco, EWPCI Training and Testing Center, Inc. and the local government of Calauan, is part of the SLP’s employment facilitation scheme where beneficiaries are trained and linked to institutions for gainful employment.

The SLP is a community-based capacity building program that seeks to improve the socio-economic status of beneficiaries. Besides employment facilitation, beneficiaries can also be trained on micro-enterprise development where they are provided skills training and capacity building for their small to medium-scale business ventures.

According to MDC Associate Manager Roberto Genato, the graduates will be immediately assigned in construction sites in Laguna, Makati and other parts of Metro Manila. (with reports from AJVFormento & DKATañedo)***