TESDA exec notes importance of reskilling, upskilling

MANILA – As many people have been unemployed in the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is ready to help reskill and upskill interested workers and individuals.

TESDA Deputy Director-General for Operations Lina Sarmiento, in a virtual presser on Friday, said the agency could train 358,000 learners this year.

She said TESDA knows that many people have lost their jobs and that TESDA has a guiding principle, “TESDA Abot Lahat”, which means its services are open to everyone.

“We go to people in the mountains, areas that may take four hours to reach. Thus it would be easier for us to provide free skills training to those in the cities, and other areas nearby,” Sarmiento said in Filipino.

The executive added that TESDA takes into consideration the skills needed in different areas, highlighting that the courses they offer are demand-driven.

Logistics is among the industries with high demand for manpower these days, especially due to the rise in the demand for delivery services, she said.

“TESDA has received requests from logistics firms if we could provide them with graduates,” Sarmiento continued.

Meanwhile, Sarmiento also mentioned that TESDA offers community-based training.

“This is useful for the informal sector since they would not need to go to TESDA centers or accredited schools. Those who learn from us, those who enrolled in baking, for example, they sell their products online,” she shared.

To further help the enrollees to find a wider range of employment opportunities, TESDA has also requested the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) to allow them to open the assessment centers, and ensured that these are compliant with health safety protocols.