Workers to get training for int’l competitiveness

CEBU, Philippines - The Technical Education Skills and Development Authority and the Cebu Contractors Association signed a memorandum of agreement for the training of some 420 workers-beneficiaries under the latter’s Training for Work Scholarship Program in support to the manpower development program of the government.

Under the MOA, which was signed the other day by TESDA director general Joel Villanueva and CCA president Peter Paul Dy, the two agencies will jointly manage the scholarship fund amounting to P3.475 million.

The amount will be used to train existing workers in the industry and for the pre-employment training and re-tooling of incoming workers in the construction-related sector.

TESDA shall allocate the amount to CCA in a form of scholarship vouchers for the training cost.

The main objective of the partnership is to create a pool of qualified, globally competitive and job-ready workforce needed by the construction industry.

These companies will in turn engage the training providers with TESDA registered to undertake the training based on the programs indicated in the approved Qualified Map.

“We expect at least 420 beneficiaries preferably Cebuanos as one way of addressing the job mismatch. TESDA has the mandate to create more jobs and this is one way of showing that we are sensitive to the needs of the industry,” said Villanueva in press conference.

Villanueva was in Cebu for the exhibition game with some Philippine Basketball Association basketball players dubbed as “Shoot for your Dream Cebu,” which is part of their technical-vocational advocacy.

Villanueva, who once dreamed to become a PBA star one day, said that owing to his height and injuries, he was not able to fulfill such dream and became a politician instead.

“But you see, I will be playing with the PBA stars later. This is to show and for the young people to realize that there is hope, so much hope in this country,” said Villanueva.

He explained that one does not have to earn a college degree in order to land a job.

“There is so much to discover in tech-voc. There is a problem of stigma in tech-voc education and we want to change that mind set na tech-voc lang ako,” said Villanueva, who himself is a certified barrister.

Villanueva, who was once a member of the Philippine team for basketball, said that providing jobs especially for the young people, needs a lot of cooperation among local government units considering that they are their constituents.

Cebu First District Representative Gerard Anthony “Samsam” Gullas, in the same press conference, said that he and his family are always behind Villanueva and his undertakings in TESDA.

“We will support you every step of the way,” said Gullas, who was part of the Team TESDA Specialista during the said basketball exhibition game.

Meanwhile, TESDA turned over P40.5 million worth of check to the Cebu provincial government and to 16 municipalities affected by supertyphoon Yolanda.

“We are thankful for this help. I am sure this amount will help a lot in the skills training program of those who were affected. We will rise from the ruins with the help of TESDA,” said Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale in her acceptance speech. —/NSA (FREEMAN)