The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) recently awarded training certification to 43 residents of the National Training School for Boys (NTSB).

The center, which is located in Brgy Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal, provides residential and rehabilitative care to boys, age 18 years old and below, who are in conflict with the law.  The skills development training is part of the rehabilitative care being provided to them in preparation to their eventual reintegration to their families and community.  The awarding of the skills certificate – the Massage Therapy National Certification Level II (NC-II), to the said residents serve as the culmination of the series of TESDA managed training the awardees underwent.

Ellen C. Belmonte, the Social Welfare Officer III of the center, explained that the provision of skills training is a vital component in the rehabilitation of center’s residents.  The training would not only enable them to earn income for themselves and their families upon their discharge, but would also help them veer away from the circumstances that led to be in their current situation.

Aside from the DSWD and the TESDA, which was represented by Vergel P. Soriano, administrator of the Rizal Provincial Technical Education and Skills Development Committee, other partner government agencies who were represented in the said graduation ceremony were the Department of Education represented by Ramon Belardo, Jr. of Division of City School of Mandaluyong and Rosie Casono of Jose Fabella Memorial High School and the Barangay Council of Sampaloc represented by its chairperson Alvin E. Belza.

The NTSB is a center managed by DSWD through its Field Office IV-A and serves children in conflict with the law primarily from the CALABARZON and National Capital Regions. To date, the center is serving a total of 259 residents ***