CLAVER, Surigao del Norte--Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC) has been chosen as this year's Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Kabalikat Award recipient, a recognition given annually to agency partners with demonstrated track record in helping equip Filipinos with employable, specialized skills.

TMC is one of the only two regional qualifiers for the coveted award, and the only regional contender in the Industry Sector category. It was also the first time for the company to be nominated for the award, courtesy of the TESDA Surigao del Norte office.

Award finalists include entities from the local government units (LGUs), the legislative branch, the national government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), non-government organizations (NGOs), private businesses and companies, and local and international organizations.

In winning the national award, TMC has been cited in developing, enhancing, and implementing training programs that have resulted in better employability of Filipino skilled workers.

In particular, TMC has earned praise for its TESDA-aligned programs such as the community-based training for Heavy Equipment Drivers and Operators, as well as its various livelihood programs benefiting the residents of Claver and neighboring areas.

Similarly, the company has won plaudits for its in-house skills training program, tech-voc scholarships and apprenticeship programs, and other skills enhancement training and assessments that have made it possible for graduates to obtain their National Certificate.

Likewise, the TMC Training and Assessment Center (TMC-TAAC) has been providing free assessments to both employees and contractor’s workers.

TMC's accreditation as an assessment center enabled its certified workers to be accredited assessors in the province, resulting in an increase in the number of certified workers in the local construction sector.

In addition, TESDA accredited TMC with having surpassed the required minimum total score for training, investment in TVET either through the procurement of training tools and equipment, the allocation for scholarship, donations made to communities to promote and support TVET through livelihood skills training, especially to priority barangays identified as peace-challenged barangays.

These programs and initiatives, the agency said, contributed to the advancement of technical education in Surigao del Norte.