THIS WEEK, all offices of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) sizzle with activities aimed at celebrating the 24th anniversary of this educational division that harnesses the technical-vocational skills of the Filipino youth.
That was the information I gathered during a chance meeting with a TESDA regional director at SM City-Iloilo. While Toni “June” Tamayo is no longer with us – being now on a bigger assignment in Cebu City (Region 7) – he granted my request for a quick interview over a cup of coffee.
“We are preparing for the National Tech-Voc Day on Saturday,” he said, referring to Aug. 25, 2018. “But the entire week actually buzzes with activities in honor of our trainers, trainees and graduates.”
The national winners of the Kabalikat Awards (with achievers/contestants comprising the regional winners) will be proclaimed and awarded by Director General Guiling Mamondiong at TESDA’s main office in Taguig City. For example, winner Tina Ronato, is now a successful bakeshop owner in Cebu City.
Mamondiong, the first Muslim Cabinet member of President Rodrigo Duterte, believes that given decent livelihood, drug pushers and users could be swayed back to the right side of the law. Lack of livelihood opportunities has no doubt become the usual excuse for the youth to go wayward.
The most exciting part of the 24th anniversary celebration is the job fair called “World Café of Opportunities” to unfold in all 17 TESDA regional offices on Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 25 and 26). Here, graduates of TESDA training centers and technical-vocational schools may apply for jobs with representatives of government agencies and private employers.
“TESDA trainees,” Tamayo said, “are very employable. An average of 65 percent of TESDA graduates gets employed. Some students – among them welding, carpentry and masonry trainees – actually earn the equivalent of 75 percent of the minimum wage under the Dual Training System program.”
This reality mirrors the training efficiency of TESDA. Before each student gets his certificate of completion, he comes face to face with a TESDA assessor who grades his acquired skills.
Graduates of certain tech-voc courses earn more than their white-collar counterparts. Among them are heavy-equipment operators at Semirara Mining and Power Corp. in Semirara Island who are paid more or less P75,000 per month.
“We now offer a course in heavy-equipment operation in Talisay, Cebu,” Tamayo revealed.
TESDA this year has a budget of P7 billion for scholarships under its new program, the Unified Access to Quality Education (UAQE) leading to diploma courses. Whereas, there used to be only national certificates numbered NC-1 to NC-4 to identify the students’ level of training, they may now go for broader disciplines.
“For example,” Tamayo cited, “we now offer a diploma course in Auto Technology, which immerses students in all jobs related to complete training in repair and maintenance of motor vehicles, ranging from painting to welding.”
To be developed by TESDA is a course in urban farming where city dwellers would train in green technology on rooftops and concrete spaces using soiled plots and pots, or even so-called hydroponics or growing of plants in water with nutrient solutions.
“We are inspired by our success,” Tamayo said, adding that he would lead the Philippine delegation to the ASEAN Skills Competition in Bangkok, Thailand next week, bringing with him Filipino skilled competitors in such fields as Information Technology, Fashion Design and Electronics.
Here in Iloilo City, TESDA has been assisting the city-owned Technical Institute of Iloilo City (TIIC) in producing trainees in welding, automotive servicing, driving and carpentry. (hvego31@gmail.com/PN)
