MANILA — Graduates of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) can expect priority access to technologies and technical assistance from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), an official told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday.
TESDA and DOST recently partnered for the launch of the country’s first “World Cafe of Opportunities”, a one-stop shop for jobseekers nationwide set on Aug. 25-26.
“TESDA offers vocational courses, and their graduates can have access to our technologies and facilities,” DOST Undersecretary Brenda Manzano said.
She said TESDA welding graduates, for instance, could access the high-end equipment at the DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center.
“Others, graduates of food processing, for example, can be referred to our facilities and Food Innovation Centers (FICs),” she added.
DOST’s FICs are located nationwide where one can develop a food product, or use the equipment to further develop a food product or its packaging.
Manzano clarified that the DOST caters to everyone who needs assistance. However, with its partnership with TESDA, TVET graduates may be prioritized.
“There will be no need for them to get a referral from TESDA. They just go straight to DOST regional offices, and we will assess their actual needs,” she said.
The DOST official said the agency’s assistance will be in the form of either further training assistance, or technical assistance.
TVET graduates could also invest in available DOST technologies.
“Aside from access to our technologies and facilities, we will also assist the TVET graduates to hone their entrepreneurial skills,” Manzano told PNA.
The DOST has programs to assist the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Among these is the Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), which helps improve the MSMEs’ productivity and competitiveness by providing them a loan that is payable in three years.
“But enterprises should be at least three years in the business before they can apply for the SETUP program,” she said, noting that TVET graduates, thus, could not apply for this if they are just starting to put up a business.
“But we will still assist them in procuring equipment, guide them where they could get the necessary machines. Basically, we can provide technical assistance,” she added.
Manzano said the DOST and TESDA regional offices are “very close” in terms of providing assistance to the MSMEs.
This is not the first time that the DOST has partnered with TESDA, she said.
“We have been partners for years now. We have partnered with them in their other programs and helped them in their policy-making. DOST sits as one of the TESDA Board that makes policies. That board also consists of the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), DA (Department of Agriculture), as well as private institutions,” she added. (Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA)
