In his desire to uplift the living conditions of Siquijodnons, Siquijor State College President Baldomero Martinez is now working for the establishment and operation of Science and Technology-Based Livelihood Skills Training Center that will provide livelihood skills training to the displaced workers, unemployed new graduates and even adults in the community.

In a brief talk with Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro during her visit to the province recently, Baldomero said construction of the six-cubicle training center at the SSC is now on-going and is 50% completed.

He said that with the skills training center, the school hopes to share with the communities livelihood skills like basic baking decorating and bread making, food production and processing, garments production management, handicraft novelty items production, hair trimming, perming, dyeing and makeup techniques, massage therapy/reflexology and photocopying/photo and line and silk screen printing that would serve as their jumping board for more profitable jobs.

"We hope to equip the center with facilities to be able to serve more the needs of the people," he said while thanking the Secretary for her support to the project.

The project would cost some P6.598 million, P2.320 million of which would come from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and other agencies and P4.278 million from the school as its counterpart.

The project will become a good venue for training and education as well as the production and marketing of goods and services for the needing public who wants to avail of the products and the various livelihood skills, Baldomero said in the proposal.

The training center, as envisioned by the SSC President, is in line with President Arroyo’s directives on government business-labor initiatives to combat the effects of the global economic downturn.

One of the center’s objective is to generate immediate employment and income through the operation of small/medium enterprises on various products, services learned from the center. It is also the SSC President’s vision to enhance community development and achieve socio-economic growth for the Siquijor community.(PIA-Siquijor)