CMO Battalion and TESDA Forge a Memorandum of Agreement

Gabriel Genaro H. Bordado V, Regional Director of TESDA-NCR (center) and COL RICARDO R VISAYA, Commanding Officer of the Philippine Army Civil Military Operations Battalion (front right) during the MOA signing that will empower the Filipino with skills and technical knowledge.

True to its word in providing community service and development in the barangays and not just lip service to the people as supposed by progressive and militant organizations, the CMO Battalion will embark on its new role as trainors to less fortunate Filipinos in the depressed barangays and communities in Metro Manila. 

In line with its thrust to organize and empower the masses, the Civil Military Operations Battalion, Civil Military Operations Group, Philippine Army forged a partnership with the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority, National Capital Region (TESDA-NCR) with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Regional Director of TESDA-NCR, Director Gabriel Genaro H Bordado and Colonel Ricardo R Visaya, the Commanding Officer of the CMO Battalion, CMOG, PA.

“It is a welcome note for TESDA to forge a partnership with the Civil Military Operations Battalion in providing and promoting technical skills training in the depressed communities in Metro Manila” Director Bordado was quoted as saying during the MOA signing.

On his part, Colonel Visaya said “This is part of the shift of paradigm in the AFP’s overall Internal Security Operations effort to curb the threat of communism in Metro Manila.”

Contained in the MOA are the objectives of the partnership which are to provide free skills and livelihood training to the Filipino youth and workers which will be facilitated by the CMO Battalion and of course with the guidance and technical assistance of TESDA in the depressed communities in Metro Manila, offer quality advance manpower skills training, meet training needs of depressed communities, strengthen practical approach and application of training on practical knowledge and skills,  standardization of qualifications, strengthen the cooperation between TESDA and the CMO Battalion and share the responsibility of manpower education and training in Metro Manila.

This will be good news for the people in the barangays. Trainings and seminars will now be conducted near their doorsteps as this will be brought by the soldiers who will be trained and be certified trainors by TESDA. This scheme will definitely bridge the gap between people and the government with the CMO Battalion serving as the link.

The barangays will be catered by the trainor’s team of the Community Service and Development (CODE) Companies of the CMO Battalion that will be servicing the different barangays all over the Metro. Skills training on automotive servicing, welding, diesel mechanic, computer and cellular phone repair, basic care giving, electronics among others will be conducted for free. Likewise, graduates of said trainings will be accredited by TESDA upon their assessment and will be guaranteed of the same standards regular TESDA graduates possess – world class standards very much in demand today. 

As part of its efforts to organize cooperative in the barangays geared towards helping the people fend for themselves, skills and livelihood trainings are a necessity prior to accreditation of the cooperatives by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and its subsequent registration to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

To address the growing number of out-of-school youths in the community, CMO Battalion will likewise screen qualified applicants and facilitate access to PGMA’s scholarship programs. Likewise, graduates will be considered and further recommended for employment in the AFP provided prospects possess the necessary qualification requirements and security clearance.