(From left to right) Hon. Crison “Don” Martesio (SB Member), Mayan Jane J. Inni (PSTD-PSTO DDO), Mr. Ivan Kleb N. Ulgasan, CESE (Municipal Administrator), RAMON EVAN T. RUIZ (TESDA Regional Director), ABEGAIL B. EUPEÑA (Provicial Director – TESDA DDO), Rowena O. Megriño (MONSTAC Training Superintendent), Art A. Hermoso (Acting PD – DTI Davao de Oro) during the inauguration of the country’s first TESDA-accredited Jewelry Training Center at Monkayo, Davao de Oro.
The Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. 11 (DOST-11), in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Monkayo, has inaugurated the country’s first TESDA-accredited Jewelry Training Center.
This facility is the first in the Philippines to offer the National Competency II (NC II) assessment in Fine Jewelry.
The initiative began in 2014 after the original training center was destroyed by Typhoon Pablo in 2012. DOST-11, collaborating with TESDA and LGU Monkayo, provided essential tools, equipment, and training to local artisans, revitalizing the jewelry-making industry in the region.
In 2024, DOST-11 led the “Smart and Sustainable Community” project, aiming to elevate the training center to national prominence.
With a PHP 1.345 million investment, DOST supported the upgrade of infrastructure and the development of a new curriculum tailored to the community’s needs. This transformation led to the center’s accreditation by TESDA, enabling it to offer the NC II assessment in Fine Jewelry.
On March 26, 2025, the Monkayo Jewelry Training Center officially launched the country’s first-ever National Assessment on Fine Jewelry NC II. This development positions Monkayo as a leader in jewelry craftsmanship and certification, providing local artisans with opportunities for national recognition and career advancement.
Ms. Mayan Jane J. Inni, provincial S&T director of PSTO Davao de Oro, emphasized the significance of this achievement.
“This center will not only provide empowerment through livelihood opportunities and enhanced competence, but it will also create societal impacts, resonating well with how we aspire our SETI initiatives in DOST create societal impacts to the communities we serve,” she said.
The establishment of the Monkayo Jewelry Training Center highlights DOST’s pivotal role in fostering innovation and supporting local industries through Science, Technology, and Innovation (SETI) initiatives. This initiative not only enhances the skills of local artisans but also contributes to the economic development of the region. #
