Tesda to show Cotabato how to profit from water hyacinths

MANILA, Philippines – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) has started a program to train Cotabato City residents in making productive use of water hyacinths, considered a scourge as they contributed to widespread flooding in the city.

Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva said the agency would send instructors from Manila to train at least 25 local trainers in Cotabato City on turning water hyacinth into viable products, among them bags, slippers and accessories.

After a five-day training, the new trainers will eventually relay their skills to locals, among them residents affected by massive flooding in communities around the Rio Grande.

“Amid the calamity, we believe this training opportunity will give the people of Cotabato, especially those displaced by the flood, a ray of hope for livelihood opportunities to help them get back on their feet,” Villanueva said in a statement.

He said the training would be conducted in existing Tesda centers in Cotabato City.  Tesda has long been undertaking skills training in productive use of water hyacinths and other plants.

“Tesda has a resource-based skills and livelihood training program that it is now employing to help the Cotabato residents who have been affected by the flood,” Villanueva said.

He said Tesda would also help trainees gain government certification, usually required in job applications.

“Tesda’s intervention does not stop at the training, but goes all the way to facilitating post-training activities such as assessment and certification of the graduates so that they can avail of more permanent jobs in the future,” Villanueva said.