Taguig City — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the private sector vowed to continue the reskilling and upskilling of Filipinos amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

TESDA, last March 26, forged Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Pilmico Foods Corporation (PILMICO), and Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) to provide skills training to Filipinos.

TESDA Secretary Secretary Isidro Lapeña and PILMICO President and CEO Tristan Roberto Aboitiz signed a MOA which aims to establish partnership between the two parties to conduct series of live webinars related to baking and cooking programs.

TESDA likewise partnered with Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) through a MOA signed by Lapeña and PSFI Executive Director Sebastian Quiniones, Jr. The partnership aims to improve human capital through industry-based learning and skills development.

Meanwhile, Lapeña also led the virtual signing of the Right of Usufruct with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA). The arrangement allows TESDA to use LLDA’s 2-hectare lot on which TESDA-LLDA Provincial Training Center (PTC) now stands.

It will also be the site of the TESDA Region 4-A Office which will provide training and livelihood opportunities for the fisherfolk and other stakeholders in the region.

In his speech, Lapeña assured that TESDA is doing its best to adjust its programs and services to adapt to the challenges brought by Covid-19 pandemic.

He likewise expressed his gratitude to PILMICO, PSFI, and LLDA saying that these partnerships are align with TESDA’s guiding principle, “TESDA, Abot Lahat.”

“Through proactive participation of several industries, socio-civic organizations and other government sectors, we strongly believe that we will be able to hurdle these obstacles,” he said.

Deputy Director General for TESD Operations Lina Sarmiento and Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Linkages Aniceto Bertiz III witnessed the signing.

Since the onset of the pandemic, TESDA has been active in providing training for Filipinos especially Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were affected by the pandemic.

TESDA has launched several initiatives such as developing and offering a contact tracing training program, enhanced TESDA Online Program (TOP), and establishment of OFW desks in every TESDA Provincial and Regional Office among others. ###

31 March 2021

Pinoy delegates arrive in Israel to learn advanced agriculture

TAGUIG CITY – The 19 Filipino delegates sent by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have safely landed today, March 31, at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv and are currently undergoing health protocols before they can start learning more about modernized agriculture under a training program offered by Agrostudies, The International Center for Agricultural Interns in Israel.

They were welcomed at the airport by Agrostudies Chief Executive Officer Yaron Tamir.

The participation of TESDA to this program is part of the Memorandum of Understanding between TESDA and Agrostudies signed on December 16, 2020 as well as the Memorandum of Agreement between TESDA and seven participating state universities and colleges (SUCs) signed last December 22, 2020.

This is in line with TESDA’s goal of promoting agriculture as one of its banner programs with the institution allocating 30 percent of its scholarship budget for agriculture and other agri-related skills training.

In his message to the delegates composed of TESDA trainers, Secretary Lapeña expressed high hopes that they will give their best during their training.

“Israel has one of the best agricultural technologies in the world and you are the fortunate ones who will be able to learn and apply it here in order to help not just your family but your province, your region and eventually the whole country. I have always been fascinated with Israeli agriculture and how it can help our country and I found hope in you. Rest assured that whatever you learned from there, TESDA will fully support you once you get back to share your learning with our kababayans here,” he said.

The TESDA Chief also thanked the government of Israel for giving an opportunity for the Filipinos who will fully benefit from this program as well as help achieve the government’s goal of attaining food sufficiency.

Agrostudies has been extending the program to the Philippines and other countries. From 2006 to 2016, there were already 6,000 Filipino students who benefited from the program from the country’s 27 SUCs.

It aims to expose Filipino students/trainees to advanced agricultural technology and upgrade their skills in agriculture as well as empower their agribusiness skills.

The delegates will undergo a six-month paid training and among the courses offered are Horticulture, Animal Science, and Entrepreneurial Initiative.

Upon completion, the trainees are expected to contribute in the improvement of the agricultural curriculum of TESDA and other training institutions in the country.

TESDA will also regularly monitor the status and well-being of the Filipino interns during their training. Two more trainers are expected to fly to Israel in a few days to join the delegation. ###

TESDA suspends face-to-face classes, conduct of competency assessment amid ECQ

Taguig City – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has suspended face-to-face classes in training centers and conduct of competency assessment in areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

This was after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) recommendation to place Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, and Rizal provinces under ECQ from March 29 to April 4.

TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña issued a memorandum ordering all TESDA Technology Institutions (TTIs) and Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs) to suspend face-to-face classes in the said areas.

“This suspension shall also apply to all other areas which have been placed under community-wide lockdowns by their respective local government units in the municipality/city/provincial level,” he said.

Lapeña encouraged the affected TVIs and Assessment Centers (ACs) to shift to online and virtual modes in the conduct of training and assessment during this period.

In order to ensure the continuity of services, the following activities may be continued in the affected areas (1) Online application through TESDA Mobile App and TESDA website; (2) Online enrollment; (3) Asynchronous eLearning programs such as TESDA Online Program or other open-source online/offline training courses; and (4) Online Processing and issuance of National Certificates/ Certificates of Competencies (NCs/COCs) including Certification, Authentication, Verification (CAV) of NCs/COCs.

Meanwhile, Lapeña reminded all Regional and Provincial Offices to strictly enforce and monitor the compliance of all TESDA personnel and partner TVIs/ACs to the public health and safety protocols, reinforcement of contact tracing systems, and provision of isolation and quarantine facilities.

TESDA earlier allowed face-to-face training and assessment in areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) subject to compliance to the minimum public health standards, training/health protocols, and coordination with LGUs. ###