ILOILO City – Forty-two-year-old Joan Condez was an all-around maintenance worker doing janitorial jobs, liaison officer and guard at the city government-run Technical Institute of Iloilo City (TIIC)-Molo Campus.
Little did he know his life would change. A better opportunity came along and made him the institution’s own trainer.
Condez said it started when the trainers of TIIC convinced him to enroll for a two-year course, which he eventually did.
His determination and hard work as a Civil Technology student earned him the TIIC Achiever Award.
To further enhance his skills, Condez availed himself of more trainings through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholarship.
Determined to achieve more, he underwent training for trainers and passed the Trainer’s Methodology Level I and Assessor’s Methodology Level 1.
He eventually qualified and was awarded with corresponding National Certificates (NCs), his key to become the TIIC trainer for Construction Services.
From being a casual employee in 2006, Condez is happy to make it as a trainer in 2010 and is now passing on his knowledge to his students.
“Daku gid ang nabulig sang TIIC sa akon kag gintagaan pa gid ako sang oportunidad nga mangin trainer,” said Condez.
With his sacrifices-paid-off story, Condez wants to inspire and motivate his students.
“Amo na gani nga kon naga-teach ako gina-challenge ko gid akon mga estudyante. Dapat kon naga eskwela ka focus-san mo kon gusto mo malab-ot ang imo handom. Wala impossible sa tawo nga mapisan,” he added.
TIIC, which has campuses in Molo and Bo. Obrero, is being managed by the Iloilo City Government. It offers quality and free technical and vocational (Tech-Voc) courses as well as TESDA-accredited livelihood and skills training for city residents, especially the youth.
Condez’s success story is just one of the thousands of city residents – from the young generation to mothers and fathers, single moms and women – whose lives were changed for the better because of the opportunities given by TIIC.
According to Caren M. Velado, TIIC acting school register, the promotion and support made by the administration of Mayor Jerry P.Treñas to TIIC attracted more residents and Ilonggo youth to avail themselves of training services.
Since 2019 when Treñas returned as city mayor, more than 2,000 Ilonggos have already benefitted from TIIC.
Treñas emphasized that he wants city residents to have a better future through TIIC whose mission is to develop their skills to find better job opportunities that will uplift their economic status.
Maria Mathilde Treñas, the city mayor’s Special Assistant for Education, said through the years TIIC has produced competent graduates that are now employed in known automotive industries, top construction companies as well in the government; while others are working abroad such as in Brunei, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern countries, Japan as well as in ships/vessels.
The graduates are also able to put up their own businesses, or employed in local hotels in the metro and being invited by the city government and other private stakeholders to conduct free services to the communities such as beauty care and wellness massage, scholarship trainings, EMR (emergency medical response) trainings, bread and pastry and food processing; and Jail Paintry Training to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), among others.
To note, the TIIC’s Jail Paintry Training, which is part of the rehabilitation efforts for PDLs to help them in their skills development and livelihood training, has been adjudged as First Runner up in the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Excell Awards for Best Practices in Economic Governance.
TIIC, which started operating in 1994, was created through Resolution No. 94-035.
Among the two-year Tech-Voc Education Programs offer include Automotive Technology, Civil Technology, Electrical Technology, Hospitality Management Technology, TVET Program, Automotive Servicing NCI, Automotive Servicing NC II, Construction Painting NC II, Driving NC II, Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II, Masonry NC II, and Plumbing NC II.
The Livelihood and Skills Training Program, on other hand, includes Basic Bar Management and Food Services, Basic Welding and Fabrication, Computer Literacy, and Cosmetology Training./PN
