MANILA, Philippines – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said it will conduct free skills training in areas devastated by recent typhoons to help residents recover and revive their livelihood.

TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña gave this assurance as his agency conducted relief operations and turned over solar street light panels and portable charging stations in Marikina City and other affected communities in Region 2, Bicol, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA.

Lapeña said they are closely coordinating with local government units (LGU) to continue to deliver its programs and help those who have been displaced and rendered homeless by the spate of typhoons that hit the country in the previous weeks.

He said TESDA regional offices have been consulting LGUs and affected residents on the implementation of relevant training programs that could help them find livelihood opportunities.

Lapeña said post-calamity assistance will come in the form of free skills training on carpentry, electrical installation and maintenance, plumbing and other construction-related courses “to help those whose houses were damaged be able to rebuild their dwellings without the need to hire additional carpenters and electricians.”

“In this way, the residents themselves, once equipped with the right skills, can help one another in re-constructing their houses.  Malaking bagay ito na makakatipid sila sa gastusin sa pagpapatayo ng kanilang bahay na nasira ng bagyong Rolly at Uysses,” he said.

The TESDA chief said cookery training program will also be offered for free in evacuation centers and affected communities “as an immediate relief.”

“By implementing a training program on cookery, the evacuees and residents themselves will have the resources to prepare and cook foods for their own consumption and would not be heavily dependent on relief food packs,” he said.

“Once they finish these training programs, these skills will remain useful which they can use to pursue jobs or new livelihoods,” he added.

Lapeña said TESDA trainers will conduct the training at the nearest and most conducive site located in the affected areas so that the trainees will no longer have to travel to the training centers.

MANILA, Philippines – Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who are about to be deployed will now go through an easier process of portfolio assessment, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said.

TESDA Circular 111, series of 2020 which was signed by the agency’s Secretary Isidro Lapeña, states that from five years’ work experience, OFWs may now qualify for eligibility requirements even with at least two years of work experience.

OFWs who do not have a certificate of employment can submit OFW Information Sheet issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) or Certification from the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices.

According to Lapeña, the move, which is part of its program TESDA Abot Lahat ang OFWs, seeks to address concern for some migrant workers who find it hard to request for their certificate of employment because of “inconsiderate employers.”

“We want the OFWs to feel that we are one with them. Their eagerness to work so they can provide for their families, in the fastest way possible, is also TESDA’s goal for them,” he added.

The circular also stated that videos and pictures showing actual practice of the qualification, which are not often allowed in the residences of the employers, may be substituted by videos demonstrating the tasks in the residence or other location with the same environment as required by the units of competency.

“This shall be supplemented by interview by the Panel of Portfolio Assessors to ascertain the competence of the candidates,” the circular read.

“All other requirements shall be submitted as indicated in the Operating Procedure for Portfolio Assessment,” it added.

Applications should be submitted to the TESDA Certification Office through its email address portfolio.assessment@tesda.gov.ph. 

The policy will be effective from Sept. 29 to Dec. 31, 2020.

MANILA, Philippines — Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) original budget request to support its scholars was more than P11-billion.

But the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved only P5 billion — a cut of more than 50 percent from the initial proposed budget of the agency. 

Makati Representative Luis Campos Jr. who sponsors TESDA’s proposed budget, said that the cut is seen to affect more than 200,000 individuals who stand to benefit from the training programs of the agency.

“Approximately ang maapektuhan ay nasa over 200,000 individuals na hindi makakatanggap ng tamang scholarship for training programs,” Campos said.

[Approximately, around 200,000 scholars will be affected as they will no longer get scholarship for training programs.]

During last week’s Senate hearing, TESDA director General Isidro Lapeña appealed for additional budget to fully implement the agency’s programs and projects for next year.

To be exact, TESDA requested P11.114 billion to finance its scholarship programs for next year. MNP (with reports from Rey Pelayo)