AT LEAST 175 Typhoon Odette victims in Sipalay City received training certificates for completing their respective technical and vocational qualifications at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).The ceremony was held in Barangay Mambaroto Covered Court in Sipalay City on Friday, April 22.Tesda-Western Visqayas Assistant Director Rick Abraham, who spoke at the activity, said the Tesda was among the first government agencies that provided immediate assistance to Typhoon Odette victims.Through the agency’s banner program dubbed “Tesdamayan,” which aims to aid communities affected by any crisis brought about by natural calamities, disasters, or any other untoward incidents that cause displacement among the residents, it was able to provide relief operations, deployed its trainers in areas hit by the typhoon to help rebuild damaged houses and clearing operations, and conducted various construction-related skills training to make the affected residents capable of rebuilding their houses, Abraham said.He added that the 175 scholars who have successfully completed their training in Masonry NC I, Carpentry NC II, Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC I, Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II, and Plumbing NC I, under the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) are an attestation that the Tesda is very serious about helping Filipinos in their recovery.Executive Assistant Efraim Mediodea, who represented Mayor Maria Gina Lizares, congratulated the graduates and commended their determination, perseverance and hard work in finishing their respective training.During the event, the Tesda also gave out certificates of appreciation to those who provided support to the agency that has contributed to a well-coordinated, faster, and more efficient delivery of assistance to Typhoon Odette-stricken areas.Councilor Claudio Bacatan presented the City Council resolution expressing their profound thanks to Tesda-Cagayan Valley and Tesda-Western Visayas experts and trainers who came to aid the city during the typhoon’s aftermath.It can be recalled that during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette on December 16, 2021, Sipalay was among the hardly hit localities in the province.As a response, the two Tesda regional offices deployed trainers and personnel to Sipalay to help rebuild damaged houses and conduct construction-related training.The team from the two regions stayed and provided aid in Sipalay for almost three months.The Central Philippine State University Campus in Sipalay served as the command post and official station of the Augmentation Team of Region 2 and Relief and Disaster Operations Team of Region 6.Part of the agency’s accomplishments in Sipalay included the repair and rehabilitation of at least 33 houses in severely affected barangays. Some 105 also availed the medical mission, and 300 foodpacks were distributed.Meanwhile, also present during the activity were Executive Assistant Rey Amit, Councilor Claudio Bacatan, Central Philippine State University Sipalay Campus Administrator Ervin Ferraris, Barangay Mambaroto Kagawad Judy Sayson, RTC-Talisay Acting Administrator Jobert Robert Ronquillo, Negros Occidental Provincial Office Supervising Tesd Specialist Ernesto Duremdes, Provincial Training Center-Kabankalan Senior Tesd Specialist Kristoffer John Cortez and RTC-Iloilo Chief Tesd Specialist Porferion Celestial. (PR)