Gov't pushes skills training

MANILA, Philippines – Over 800,000 workers will be trained to help them find higher paying jobs and better employment opportunities this year through a P5.66-billion fund the government has set aside for massive skills training and technical education.

National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) head Secretary Domingo Panganiban said the government has already commenced efforts to train some 809,800 unskilled Filipino workers for jobs as call center agents, welders, electricians, machine operators, massage therapists, mechanics and clerks through scholarships at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Panganiban said 400,000 Filipinos will benefit from TESDA’s free assessment services while 282,000 more workers will be trained through TESDA regional and provincial offices.  “Another 45,000 beneficiaries will undergo instruction through the network of TESDA Technology Institutions,” Panganiban said.

The NAPC chief said TESDA will train an additional 20,000 workers through its partner industry associations and sectoral groups, and 10,000 more Filipinos will be trained through the Ladderized Education Program.

“Beyond this, we aim to train 20,000 workers under TESDA’s Balik-Buhay sa Mindanao Program even as we provide instruction to some 10,000 Filipinos under the ‘Sa TESDA May Hanapbuhay Ka’ program this year,” he said.

He said government expects to train another 20,800 workers through the National Technical Vocational Education and Training Program (TVET).  

Interested applicants need only to proceed to the nearest TESDA office for inquiries. – Paolo Romero