LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 20 (PNA) — Albay province has the most number of schools and training centers under the Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (TESDA) in Bicol, the regional spokesperson of the agency said Thursday.
Rose Perida said the Bicol region has seven TESDA schools — two in Albay and one each in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Sorsogon and Masbate.
On the other hand, there are four training centers, two of which are in Albay — one in Guinobatan town and the other in Malilipot — and one each in Pili, Camarines Sur, and Labo, Camarines Norte.
There are also private technical vocational schools, which, Perida said, cannot operate if not registered with TESDA.
She disclosed that TESDA Bicol is aiming to be ISO certified before the year 2014 ends, based on the program of their office.
The TESDA Bicol official said that of the 17 TESDA regional offices in the whole country, Bicol is among the remaining six that need to be ISO compliant this 2014.
Perida said their office is continuously preparing for the ISO certification; in fact, she said, all TESDA provincial offices in the region have already undergone internal audit.
In addition, the TESDA spokesperson added, they are also improving the physical appearance of their buildings.
The ISO certification requirements also include the two primary programs of their office: program registration and competency assessment certification.
Perida said it is very important that the programs of TESDA be ISO compliant in order for Filipino technical workers to be globally competitive.
She said TESDA gives competency assessment certification that vouches for the ability of a worker after finishing a training.
Once the trainee passes, the TESDA will give him a National Competency Certification as a proof that he is a skilled worker like the Overseas Filipino Workers and will be branded as a Global Pinoy skilled worker. (PNA)