In this photo is Mr. Ramel Babaran, one of the 29 beneficiaries who completed the Shielded Metal Arc Welding or SMAW skills training supported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

With Brilliant Gem Technical School as the program implementing partner, the beneficiaries receives a full course and hands-on training on SMAW, free of charge as assisted by the SLP.

The same numbers of beneficiaries obtain a National Certificate II after passing the assessment administered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA on January 16, 2017.

The SLP is a multi-stakeholder program of the department that aims to improve the standard of living of poor households by facilitating opportunities for development and management of resources viable for micro-enterprises, community empowerment through skills trainings and employment facilitation. The provision of Technical/Vocational Skills Training is one of the modalities of the program to improve the employable skills of beneficiaries.

Written by JAMILA M. TAHA, DSWD