SOME Thirty farmers, mostly members of the T’boli tribe living in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Philippines have been taking a two-week training course for rubber tapping that will end on August 2.
The trainees are members of the South Cotabato Rubber-Based Farming Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SCRBF MPC) in Lake Sebu, a recipient of government assistance for the development of rubber industry in the area, according to Reynaldo Nitura of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 12.
He said that TESDA’s target for this project is to provide skilled tappers for the local rubber industry.
“This is the first project that TESDA 12 is conducting specifically for T’boli indigenous peoples,” he said, adding that learning tapping technology could prevent damaging rubber trees during gathering of latex.
The training is handled by experts from the rubber training school established by the local government unit of Makilala in North Cotabato; and covers several topics including handling of acids, handling of tapping knife, identifying trees ready for tapping, marking systems and techniques and patterns of rubber tapping.
Certificates if competency will be given to trainees on conclusion of the courses.
The same training facility, the only one in the Philippines has developed the country’s training regulation on rubber.
He said the complete rubber production course “covers basic competencies, common competencies, and core competencies.”
“Core competencies,” he further explained “ include nursery establishment, plantation management, budding, and tapping.”
He also said that this training only form part of an entire regulation and that trainees who are able complete and pass assessment of other required courses will be given National Certification (NC), which a graduate could use for employment in rubber plantations anywhere in the country and abroad.