Mark Lester T. Echeveria, a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary and a father of four children, now works as an Electrician in J.V. Angeles Construction Company in Sumilao, Bukidnon, after passing the NC II Assessment Exam on Electrical Installation Maintenance conducted by 1 AND ALL Technical School, one of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s partner schools in providing Technical Vocational Skills Training under the Sustainable Livelihood Program.
Echeveria lost his one eye due to an accident he incurred years back in line of duty. “Usa ka dagkong pag sulay ang niabot sa akong kinabuhi, ang maoy nakapawala sa akong paglaom kadtung nadisgrasya ko sa motor, nga maoy hinungdan nga gikuha ang akong pikas mata aron dili maapektuhan ang akong pikas mata (one of the most devastating and demotivating experienced I had in life happened when I incurred an accident that resulted to removal of my one eye to retain the other)”, he narrates. Because of this, Echeveria lost confidence and quit work for about a year.
“Miabot ang mga kahigayonan, usa ka programa nga gi pangulohan sa DSWD na libre nga skwela sa kahanas, pero nag duha-duha ko tungod kay baldado ko, daghan kaayo ang akong mga pangutana sa akong kaugalingon, unsay makuha nako niini, makatabang ba ni sa akong pamilya, (when the opportunity knocks through the DSWD’s free technical vocational skills training, I had doubts whether to take it or not, I even asked myself what’s in it for me or will it benefit my family)”, he tells. But in the in the end, “everything was worth it”, Echeveria adds. “Ang akong pangandoy nga maka graduate ug mkasul-ob sa toga ako ng naangkon (my dream to graduate and wear toga came to reality)”, he says with pride.
Echeveria now feels confident that he will be able to provide for his family despite his impairment because of government’s untiring intervention and support. “Mao nang dagko gyud ang akong pasalamat sa gobyerno ilabi na sa DSWD ug sa 1 AND ALL Techncial School (this is why I am very grateful to the government especially to DSWD and 1 AND ALL Technical School)”, he praises.
Echeveria earns about eight thousand pesos a month apart from overtime pays and benefits.
Written by Jamila M. Taha, DSWD