Breaking the Silence: Empowering Communities Through Mental Health Awareness

Mental health is no longer a silent struggle—it is a conversation that communities must courageously embrace. Recognizing the growing importance of emotional well-being, the Provincial Training Center (PTC) Davao brought mental health awareness closer to the grassroots through a meaningful community training held on November 07, 2025, at Barangay Sto. Niño, Tugnok District, Davao City.

The Mental Health Awareness Training gathered community members in a learning environment that encouraged openness, understanding, and support. The activity aimed to deepen participants’ awareness of mental health, help them recognize early signs of mental health concerns, and equip them with practical strategies to promote emotional resilience within their families and communities.

The session featured Mr. Cesar S. Sumbiling Jr., Registered Social Worker, who shared valuable insights on the realities of mental health challenges and the importance of compassion, empathy, and timely support. Through his engaging discussion, participants learned how mental health affects daily life and why creating a supportive community environment is vital in helping individuals cope with stress, anxiety, and other emotional difficulties.

Facilitating the activity was Mr. Jonathan D. Samillano of PTC Davao, who guided participants through interactive discussions and practical learning activities. His facilitation encouraged active participation, allowing attendees to share experiences, ask questions, and reflect on how they can become advocates for mental well-being in their own communities.

Throughout the training, participants gained a clearer understanding of mental health concepts, discovered available local support resources, and learned simple yet effective techniques for managing stress and maintaining emotional balance.

More than just a learning session, the activity became a safe space where conversations about mental health were welcomed—breaking stigma and strengthening the community’s collective commitment to care for one another.

Through initiatives like this, PTC Davao continues to demonstrate that technical education and community development go hand in hand, nurturing not only skills for livelihood but also the well-being of the people they serve. The training left participants empowered with knowledge, compassion, and a renewed commitment to building a community where mental health matters and no one struggles alone. [JD Samillano / CA Noynay - SMAC]

Building Skills, Empowering Communities: Brgy. Sto. Niño Moves Toward Its Own Training Center

On April 8, 2025, a coordination meeting was successfully convened at Brgy. Sto. Niño, Tugbok District, Davao City to discuss the proposed establishment of a Barangay Training Center spearheaded by the local association in the barangay. The meeting, hosted by the Barangay Council, brought together key representatives from various government agencies and training institutions to collaborate on strengthening community-based skills development initiatives.

The discussion was led by Barangay Captain Romeo “Tata” Alberca, together with distinguished representatives from partner agencies: Iza Beth C. Villareal, LEO III Focal Person of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XI – Davao City Field Office; Marry Glocel C. Cantones, Livelihood Development Specialist; Francis P. Buñawan, TESD Specialist I and Special Project Focal of the TESDA Davao City District Office (DCDO); and Jonathan D. Samillano, TESD Specialist II and Vocational Instruction Supervisor of the Provincial Training Center – Davao (PTC-Davao). Their participation underscored the strong inter-agency commitment to expanding training opportunities within the community.

The proposed training center is initially set to offer Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) NC II and Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NC I, targeting 50 association members and interested residents of the barangay. These programs aim to equip participants with industry-relevant technical skills that can lead to employment and livelihood opportunities.

To ensure long-term sustainability, selected graduates will later be identified to undergo Trainer’s Methodology (TM) training, enabling them to qualify as certified trainers and assessors. This strategy will help build local training capacity within the barangay and support continuous skills development for future batches of learners.