25 Aetas to benefit from 8-day Basic Solar Power Installation Training in Tarlac

Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija – At least 25 members of the Aeta Mag-Antsi Indigenous Cultural Community (ICC) of Sitio Balatong, Brgy. Maruglu, Capas, Tarlac will soon benefit from the Basic Solar Power Installation Training initiated by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in coordination with Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM), and in partnership with various stakeholders.

The NOLCOM, led by Lieutenant General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., identified the ICC as the beneficiary of the skills training while the troops of the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion provided security assistance during the launching of the activity at Brgy. Maruglu Covered Court on March 20, 2021.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Henry Z. Cabusao, commanding officer of the 3rd Mech Bn, the Basic Solar Power Installation training will be beneficial to the Aeta community in Sitio Balatong as they have yet to access electricity.

This endeavor is in line with the undertakings of the Poverty, Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) chaired by TESDA as one of the 12 Clusters of NTF-ELCAC to implement Executive Order No. 70 or the Whole-of-Nation Approach of solving the more than five-decade insurgency problem in the country.

During the training, the IPs will learn installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and taking good care of the solar-powered lights. Upon completion of training, the solar power devices are theirs to keep. The IPs were also given foodstuff to take home for their families.

The training was made successful through the convergence of efforts of the TESDA Central Office, spearheaded by its Deputy Director General, Ms Lina Sarmiento; TESDA-Region III spearheaded by its Regional Director, Atty. Balmyrson M. Valdez; TESDA – Tarlac headed by Engr. John B. Adawey; Rotary Club San Juan Del Monte headed by its president, Ms. Jill C. Janiviar; Rotary Club Midtown Tarlac headed by Jame Garcia, National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP) – Tarlac represented by Mr Gilbert Cuero; LGU – Capas represented by Ms. Merly Bumagat, Tarlac Provincial Police Office represented by PLTCOL Manny Tejero; Capas Municipal Police Station represented by PMAJ Joy P. Turaray; the Barangay Officials of Barangay Maruglu headed by Hon. Jaime S. Gawat; and, NOLCOM represented by Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Henry Z. Cabusao, Commanding Officer of 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion.

Grateful for the opportunity, Mr. Danilo Sumaoang, the tribal Chieftain thanked the stakeholders for choosing their tribe as the recipient of the solar power and foodstuff.

Addressing the various stakeholders, he said “Nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno na pumunta at nagdala ng mga biyayang ito sa aming lugar, malayo po ang aming lugar at wala pong ilaw doon dahil sa sobrang layo, kaya maraming salamat po inyong lahat.”

Brigadier General Andrew D. Costelo, 703rd Infantry Brigade commander said that said the skills training will benefit the whole community not only the 25 Aeta-trainees, and hopes that they will able to extend their services to others.

Meanwhile, the commander of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Major General Alfredo V. Rosario Jr., lauded the initiative of the PRLEC through TESDA that will capacitate ICCs in Solar Power Installation and that will enable them to light up their homes and streets at night.

Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija – At least 25 members of the Aeta Mag-Antsi Indigenous Cultural Community (ICC) of Sitio Balatong, Brgy. Maruglu, Capas, Tarlac will soon benefit from the Basic Solar Power Installation Training initiated by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in coordination with Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM), and in partnership with various stakeholders.

The NOLCOM, led by Lieutenant General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., identified the ICC as the beneficiary of the skills training while the troops of the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion provided security assistance during the launching of the activity at Brgy. Maruglu Covered Court on March 20, 2021.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Henry Z. Cabusao, commanding officer of the 3rd Mech Bn, the Basic Solar Power Installation training will be beneficial to the Aeta community in Sitio Balatong as they have yet to access electricity.

This endeavor is in line with the undertakings of the Poverty, Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) chaired by TESDA as one of the 12 Clusters of NTF-ELCAC to implement Executive Order No. 70 or the Whole-of-Nation Approach of solving the more than five-decade insurgency problem in the country.

During the training, the IPs will learn installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and taking good care of the solar-powered lights. Upon completion of training, the solar power devices are theirs to keep. The IPs were also given foodstuff to take home for their families.

The training was made successful through the convergence of efforts of the TESDA Central Office, spearheaded by its Deputy Director General, Ms Lina Sarmiento; TESDA-Region III spearheaded by its Regional Director, Atty. Balmyrson M. Valdez; TESDA – Tarlac headed by Engr. John B. Adawey; Rotary Club San Juan Del Monte headed by its president, Ms. Jill C. Janiviar; Rotary Club Midtown Tarlac headed by Jame Garcia, National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP) – Tarlac represented by Mr Gilbert Cuero; LGU – Capas represented by Ms. Merly Bumagat, Tarlac Provincial Police Office represented by PLTCOL Manny Tejero; Capas Municipal Police Station represented by PMAJ Joy P. Turaray; the Barangay Officials of Barangay Maruglu headed by Hon. Jaime S. Gawat; and, NOLCOM represented by Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Henry Z. Cabusao, Commanding Officer of 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion.

Grateful for the opportunity, Mr. Danilo Sumaoang, the tribal Chieftain thanked the stakeholders for choosing their tribe as the recipient of the solar power and foodstuff.

Addressing the various stakeholders, he said “Nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno na pumunta at nagdala ng mga biyayang ito sa aming lugar, malayo po ang aming lugar at wala pong ilaw doon dahil sa sobrang layo, kaya maraming salamat po inyong lahat.”

Brigadier General Andrew D. Costelo, 703rd Infantry Brigade commander said that said the skills training will benefit the whole community not only the 25 Aeta-trainees, and hopes that they will able to extend their services to others.

Meanwhile, the commander of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Major General Alfredo V. Rosario Jr., lauded the initiative of the PRLEC through TESDA that will capacitate ICCs in Solar Power Installation and that will enable them to light up their homes and streets at night.