The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) community-based skills development program for indigenous people and cultural communities began on Monday in Iloilo City.

The program is scheduled to end on Friday, March 23.

According to TESDA Director-General Guiling Mamondiong, the event seeks to strengthen programs that aim to protect and conserve the culture and arts of indigenous people.

The program plans to teach the youth about 37 ethnic arts and cultures likely to become extinct. Among the art forms include beads-making, embroidery, weaving, healing, the performing arts (songs, music, dance, chant), among others./WDJ