ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA - In a strong push to turn practical skills into sustainable household income, the Local Government of Angeles City, through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), successfully conducted a hands-on Churros Making Training for 60 local residents at Robinsons Angeles in Balibago. The initiative, spearheaded under the leadership of Angeles City Mayor Carmelo "Jon" B. Lazatin II and managed by PESO Head Ferdinand P. Calma, targeted diverse and marginalized sectors across the city. Participants included representatives from the local LGBT Association, Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI), Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Solo Parent Associations, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and the Empowered Women of Angeles (EWA).
Hands-On Training for Immediate Economic Impact
Facilitated by expert trainer Ms. Genevieve Ibañez, the comprehensive session focused on giving participants foundational baking knowledge and actual workspace experience . The primary goal of the LGU is to provide immediate, actionable skills that vulnerable sectors can instantly leverage to kickstart small-scale food businesses or supplement their family income. "One skill can open a door, and one opportunity can change a life," the Angeles City PESO statement read, emphasizing the local government's long-term commitment to human capital development and economic self-reliance.
Community Partnerships and Starter Toolkits
The program's success was amplified by active multi-sectoral collaborations. Key local leaders and socio-civic figures joined the event to show solidarity, including Atty. Jeriko Bais of the Rotary Club of Balibago, City Councilor Maricel Morales Angoncillo, Zonta Club of Pampanga President Leanor Bais, and EWA President Ms. Rhoda De Vera Timaio. To ensure the training transitions smoothly into real economic opportunities, the Rotary Club of Balibago and the Zonta Club of Pampanga sponsored complete Churros Making Starter Kits for the attendees, alongside essential hygiene items like hand soaps and lotions . Private sector brands Personal Collection and Avon also extended vital corporate sponsorship and logistics support to help fulfill the livelihood project. By equipping marginalized sectors with both the technical know-how and the physical assets required to produce and sell goods, Angeles City continues to pave the way toward building a more resilient, highly skilled, and economically independent populace.
