By Lily O. Ramos
MANILA, July 5 (PNA) — It pays to be trained and certified as someone who knows his craft under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) headed by Secretary and Director General Joel Villanueva.
Villanueva said on Sunday the agency will continue providing quality skills training to the youth to give them a strong fighting chance when they get into the world of work.
“Technical vocational education and training is a learning that works. I urge the youth to give it a try,” Villanueva said.
And the Palawenos are no exception because their vocational-technical students are being hired by Malaysia even before they graduate this year.
TESDA provincial director of Palawan Arnel Campued said on Sunday that of the 2,700 enrolled trainees at the Palawan Training Center, 1,500 will have a sure slot for employment in Malaysia, specially in tourism.
The employment was facilitated by Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez when an employment team from the local government unit was organized for the purpose.
Visiting Palawan last week, Villanueva, joined by Alvarez and local government officials, led the inauguration of the Palawan Training Center in Aborlan town.
Sarangani Rep. and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao also attended the event and expressed support for the promotion of tech-voc in the country.
Villanueva also attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the TESDA Assessment Processing Center in Puerto Princesa School of Arts and Trades (PPSAT), which was donated by the provincial government, and the TESDA-PPSAT Contextual Learning Center.
He also also led the awarding of tool kits for the scholars under TESDA’s Special Training for Employment Program (STEP).
The TESDA Assessment Processing Center will house the facilities and the qualified staff who will process documents from application to issuance of National Certificates.
It will also provide rooms and facilities for orientation and conduct of written test.
The center will cater to TESDA clients for its assessment and certification program, to include those who have completed the tech-voc track of the K to 12 program, and PGP–JCA Scholarship Program (Programang Pang-edukasyon sa Palawan) and other graduates of TESDA Programs.
The province of Palawan is not wanting in stories of graduates who have taken the tech-voc path and succeeded.
Leaving the service after 34 years, retired Master Sergeant Rodellin Carriedo of the Philippine Marine Corps found a new career after getting the skills and the certificate for four courses — Electrical Installation and Maintenance NCII, Plumbing NC II, Tile Setting NC II and Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II.
Jimuel Milano, 31, had a hard time looking for a job. He took up a tech-voc course and is now employed in a construction company.
He carries with him National Certificates in Electrical Installation and Maintenance NCII, Carpentry NC II, Plumbing NC II and courses related to electrical repairs.(PNA)