Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson with some of the graduates of the Elevate Artificial Intelligence Data Annotation (AIDA) program in Candoni town on Monday.*
Some 200 women in southern Negros Occidental have completed the upskilling program under the Elevate Artificial Intelligence Data Annotation (AIDA), an initiative that equips them with relevant digital skills to access remote work opportunities.
The trainees from the municipalities of Candoni and Ilog, who graduated in separate rites on Monday, Oct. 13, were the latest batch of Negrense women to avail of the program supported by the Aboitiz Foundation and Connected Women, in collaboration with the provincial government and the host-local government units (LGUs).
In a statement on Tuesday, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who attended the events with Mayors Ray Ruiz of Candoni and John Paul Alvarez of Ilog, said the Elevate AIDA program is not only a skills training initiative but a powerful platform for empowerment, self-sufficiency, and hope.
“In Negros Occidental, we have always believed in the strength and potential of every Negrense woman. With the right support, tools, and opportunities, they rise, and when women rise, the entire communities are uplifted,” he added.
The initiative empowers women, solo parents, stay-at-home mothers, and other underserved sectors by teaching them vital digital skills in AI and data annotation.
During the graduation rites, Lacson told the graduates their achievement is a testament to their strength and courage to dream bigger, not only for their own selves, but also for their families.
“Take what you have learned and use it not just for yourselves, but to uplift others. When you succeed, share your story with other women who may still be struggling to believe in themselves,” he said.
Last September, the provincial government entered into a memorandum of agreement with Aboitiz Foundation Inc., Connected Women, and the participating LGUs to advance digital inclusion in southern Negros through the Elevate AIDA.
The program builds on the success of its 2024 pilot implementation in San Carlos City and Calatrava in northern Negros, where 65 percent to 75 percent of the trainees obtained employment after graduation.
The 15-day training, with daily allowance, offers a flexible work schedule that allows the beneficiaries to balance their responsibilities at home while earning a steady income.
Their graduates can become financially independent and contribute to the global digital economy with the in-demand skills learned during the training. *PNA