Twenty-four scholars of the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) recently obtained their National Certification II (NC II) as massage wellness therapists from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Puerto Princesa School of Arts and Trades (TESDA-PPSAT).
Iskander Sali, RTNMC community development coordinator, said the TESDA wellness course is part of their goal to provide skills to community residents in Bataraza for them to have other means of livelihood.
The program for wellness and spa was initiated by the company’s Social Development and Management Program (SDMP).
The certificate obtained by the therapists is valid for five years.
“This program is one of the social preparations ng main program. Ang main program nito ay establishment ng wellness and spa and isa sa mga stepping stones namin is to provide them with capacities to do this,” Sali said.
This will open opportunities for other therapists to also earn P300 per session.
The certified massage therapists are local residents of Barangay Sandoval in Bataraza which organized the Sandoval Massage Therapists Association (SAMATHEA) registered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Palawan.
“Ngayon naghahanap pa lang kami ng site (for the spa) and mag-a-add pa sila ng other training para mahasa pa sila especially on dry massage kasi based on PPSAT-TESDA, dry massage ‘yong isa sa pinaka in demand na klase ng masahe kasi even nakatayo lang ‘yong client sa isang lugar, puwede sila imasahe,” Sali added.