MANILA — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), along with partner agencies and financial institutions, officially launched the first World Café of Opportunities (WCO) at the TESDA Women’s Center in Taguig City on Tuesday afternoon.
The WCO is a one-stop shop for job seekers set nationwide on August 25-26.
TESDA, other government agencies, and private institutions signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) during the launch. Each party aims to assist technical and vocational education (TVET) graduates to find employment, other scholarships, and even start-up opportunities.
The government agencies and financial institutions that signed the MOA with TESDA were the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Trade and Industries (DTI), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Office of the Cabinet Secretary (OCS), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Philippine Overseas Employment and Administration (POEA).
Private organizations, on the other hand, were the Federation of the Philippine Industries (FPI), Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP), Philippine Constructors Association (PCA), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Technical Vocational Schools and Associations of the Philippines (TEVSAPHIL), and the Tech-Voc Schools Association (TVSA).
TESDA Secretary Guiling Mamondiong wants the WCO to be held yearly.
On Tuesday, he told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that other government agencies are welcome to partner with TESDA for this initiative.
“Every (government agency) whose mandate is to help alleviate poverty is welcome to partner with us. We also welcome those in the regions and provinces, since we will conduct the WCO nationwide,” he said, pointing out TESDA wants to bring this down to the regions.
Mamondiong added that even private banks are welcome to partner with TESDA for the WCO. TESDA has tapped financial institutions, such as the LBP and the DBP to lend capital to TVET graduates, who would like to put up their own businesses.
Meanwhile, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez emphasized that skills are actually a great capital or investment.
“Skills are what one needs not just for employment but also for businesses,” he remarked during his speech. Lopez said the skills that one can learn from TESDA really empower the individuals.
“This is why the President has tasked TESDA to empower rebel returnees, the indigenous people, among others,” Lopez added.
Mamondiong told PNA that many college graduates want to enroll in TESDA.
“Based on an ADB (Asian Development Bank) study, there’s a bigger chance for those who have technical-vocational skills to get an employment,” he said. (Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA)
