THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) said they would develop training programs on urban and peri-urban agriculture.
The partnership was signed between Tesda Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ”I have always believed that Filipinos have a special gift. Give us a small patch of land, a rooftop, a balcony or even a few recycled containers, and before long, someone has turned them into a thriving garden. We are, by nature, nurturers. Today, our task is to match that instinct with knowledge, skills and opportunity,” Tiu Laurel said. The project will be done through the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program, with support from the Bureau of Plant Industry. The initiative would pave the way for the development of competency standards, training programs and the Urban Agriculture Production National Certificate, giving Filipinos a nationally recognized qualification in urban agriculture. ”Skills development is ultimately about creating opportunities for people. Through this partnership with DA, we are giving Filipinos practical skills that they can use to earn a living, start an enterprise and contribute to food security in their own communities,” Benitez said in a statement. The Tesda headquarters in Taguig will be developed into a flagship Urban Agriculture Technology Demonstration and Training Center as part of the initiative.
