GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 20 — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has allocated an additional Php30 million in scholarship grants this year for “poor but deserving students” from various parts of Mindanao.
TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Mindanao Technical Vocational Education and Training Association (MINTVET) here on Thursday to facilitate the opening of around 3,000 technical-vocational (tech-voc) training scholarships starting this summer.
MINTVET president Rey Albano, who is president of the Holy Trinity College here, signed the MOA in behalf of the group, which was tapped by TESDA as the program’s main implementer.
“This is part of our continuing commitment to assist our performing tech-voc institutions here in Mindanao,” Villanueva said after the simple signing ceremony.
He said the partnership with MINTVET and the direct allocation of funds for the scholarship program is so far the first for the agency.
He said the Php30 million earmarked for the initiative is on top of the regular allocation of its six regional offices in Mindanao.
Richard Amparo, TESDA Sarangani-General Santos acting provincial director, said the program will be managed and implemented by MINTVET through its member-institutions.
He said the scholarship slots, which will be given under its Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), would be divided equally among Mindanao’s six regions or at 500 each.
“Each scholarship grant is worth Php8,000 to Php10,000,” he told PNA in an interview.
Amparo said MINTVET will handle the selection of the scholars based on its internal guidelines that is also aligned with TESDA’s scholarship criteria.
Founded in 2001, MINTVET is the biggest association of TVET institutions across Mindanao’s six regions.
It is the lead organizer of the annual Mindanao Human Resource and Skills Development Summit that is supported by TESDA, TVET Institutions, industries and other TVET stakeholders.
The MOA signing with MINTVET was among the highlights of Secretary Villanueva’s two-day swing in the city to promote TESDA’s flagship programs.
On Wednesday night, Villanueva led a basketball exhibition game dubbed “Shoot for Your Dream” held at the city gymnasium.
The match featured the agency’s “Team Trabaho” composed of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) veterans and local basketball stars under “Team Espeyalista.”
Villanueva served as captain of “Team Trabaho,” which included PBA veterans Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Condinera, Kenneth Duremdes, Marlou Aquino, Bal David, Zaldy Realubit, Rodney Santos and Bobby Jose.(PNA)