ALLEVIATING POVERTY: 53IB, TESDA IX Implement PRLEC Programs in Datagan, Guipos, ZDS

The Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Region IX implemented Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) programs in Barangay Datagan, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur on May 27, 2021.

The PRLEC is part of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) created under Executive Order No. 70. EO 70 primarily brings different government agencies together in serving the people and addresses problems contributing to insurgency through the whole-of-nation approach.

The program included skills training on Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NC1 and Masonry under the Training For Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) participated by residents of Barangay Datagan.
The training was spearheaded by Guipos Mayor Vicente Cajeta, TESDA Secretary Gen. Isidro Lapeña, TESDA IX Regional Director Dan Navarro, TESDA IX Provincial Director Engr. Alan Bacatan,,, PhD., TESDA IX Provincial Training Center Administrator Juancho Lazo Sr., and TESDA Scholarship Specialist Mercedita Rabe.

This activity is part of the 53IB’s drive to communicate strategically the Army’s transformation to become a world class that is a source of national pride by 2028 in line with the Army Transformation Roadmap (ATR).