Manila, April 6 -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in partnership with the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), has officially launched the country's first training program on sugarcane production.

TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez said the initial batch of 25 trainees will undergo a comprehensive four-month course on Sugarcane Production NC (National Certificate) Level II.

"The first in the entire country. Negros will pilot the Sugarcane Production NC II TESDA training program," Benitez said in a statement over the weekend.

He said the trainees will "gain hands-on experience in everything from field preparation and sugarcane farming to the vital post-production processes".

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