New training deals to benefit over 2,000 scholars

TESDA
Globally-competitive and job-ready workers are the target of free training to be provided under the agreements between TESDA, represented by Secretary Joel Villanueva (fourth from left), and three industry partners — Makati Development Corporation, Philippine Society of Plumbing Engineers (PSPE) Inc., and Philippine Society of Ventilating, Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers (PSVARE) Inc.(Tesda)

For this initiative, in cooperation with the private sector, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in a statement said it will pour some P17.480 million worth of scholarship vouchers, which will be sourced from its Training for Work Scholarship Program.

Under separate Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) signed last week, TESDA will allocate P8.130 million for the Makati Development Corporation (MDC); P5.450 million for the Philippine Society of Plumbing Engineers (PSPE) Inc.; and P3.9 million for the Philippine Society of Ventilating, Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers (PSVARE) Inc.

The training will be for existing workers and for pre-employment and re-tooling of incoming workers in the various industries, such as construction (MDC); plumbing (PSPE); and air-conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration industry (PSVARE).

The series of training are slated from July to December 2014.

“The support for skills development of our partner industries will be used to upgrade the quality of the workforce,” Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA Director General, said.

“Education and training should keep pace with the changing requirements of the labor market for the graduates to be gainfully employed and more productive,” he said.

Villanueva said the partnership with the industry associations are also meant to combat a long-standing concern facing the Philippine job market: how to fill job vacancies requiring specific skills.

“We will continue to work with high-growth sectors to develop training programs to help entry-level workers and existing workers advance their ranks,” he said.

Under the agreement with MDC, a total of 1,060 scholars would be chosen for the following courses: Carpentry NC II, Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II, Masonry NC I, Reinforcing Steel Works NC II, Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II, Heavy Equipment Operation (Transit Mixer) NC II, Scaffold Erection NC II, and Training Methodology I.

The deal with PSPE will cover the training of 650 scholars for Plumbing NC II and NC III.

A total of 400 scholars will be selected under the agreement with PSVARE, who can take up courses such as Airduct Servicing NC II, RAC Servicing NC II and Transport RAC Servicing NC II.