Cong. Edgar Chatto is optimistic that more skills training and technical vocational programs will be carried out in the province.
The first district representative said the newly appointed Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) former Congressman now Sec. Kiko Benitez will be a very strong partner in the continued implementation of the agency’s programs.
At the House of Representatives on Wednesday, August 28, Chatto had met with Benitez, who was a member of the Committee on Climate Change chaired by Chatto.
He cited Benitez’s very active role in the approval of vital House Bills geared towards climate action and climate justice.
This includes the recently passed Republic Act No. 12019, also known as the “The Loss and Damage Fund Board Act,” principally authored by Chatto and co-authored by Benitez as well as representatives Jocelyn Limkaichong, Fernando Cabrera, Jose Manuel Alba, Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon and Christian Tell Yap.
The measure confers the Philippines’ legal personality and capacity to be part of the board of the climate disaster fund called the “Loss and Damage Fund.”
Under the law, the Board, as the governing body of the Fund, shall have juridical personality with full legal capacity to contract, acquire and dispose immovable and movable property, as well as institute legal proceedings.
It will also have legal capacity to negotiate, conclude, and enter into a hosting arrangement with the World Bank as interim trustee and host of the Fund’s secretariat, and undertake activities as necessary for discharging its roles and functions.
On the other hand, Benitez, as Chairman of the Committee on Housing and Urban Development in Congress, was also responsible for helping Chatto push for the release of funds and implementation of the National Housing Authority (NHA) resettlement project in Tubigon.
A P50 million initial fund has been secured by Chatto through the NHA for the upcoming Tubigon Resettlement Project that will benefit island residents affected by sea level rise.
The housing project that will be constructed at a 1.34 hectare lot in Barangay Genonocan in Tubigon is now up for bidding, as per the latest update.
The project design includes the construction of 60 housing units located in 40 square meter lots that will be constructed along with concrete roads, drainage system, sanitary facilities and provision for water and power supply.
It will also have space for facilities such as tricycle terminal, Material Recovery Facility, talipapa, wasterwater treatment facility and a multipurpose basketball covered court.
With his strong partnership with Benitez in his previous capacities, Chatto is optimistic that more Boholanos will benefit from TESDA programs.
Chatto’s office has been in close coordination with TESDA-Bohol headed by Provincial Director Carlito Quintano on the implementation of various technical vocational scholarship programs.