TESDA to build construction force

MANILA, Philippines - The Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) is moving to generate the needed number of highly skilled workers for the booming construction industry.

TESDA chief Joel Villanueva said the agency is closely working with the private sector in providing the necessary training to create the so-called “force for construction.”

Villanueva said technical-vocational institutions should be able to keep up with the pace and offer a pool of quality and competitive graduates as demand for skilled workers in construction and other sectors increases.

“There’s no sign that activities are slowing down. Together, we acted on this opportunity promptly by arming workers with the skills needed by the construction industry,” Villanueva said.

TESDA recently forged an agreement with the Association of Carriers and Equipment Lessors (ACEL) Inc. to generate enough skilled workers for the construction of buildings and other infrastructure.

“Cooperation between the agency and the private sector is vital to create a force for construction,” Villanueva stressed.

TESDA and ACEL recently signed a memorandum of agreement to createf a scholarship fund for the training of workers in the industry and for the pre-employment training and re-tooling of incoming workers in the construction-related sector.

ACEL, Villanueva said, also committed to employ at least 70 percent of the graduates under the agreement and to maintain a development fund for future training.

“I hope that our cooperation will address the pervasive migration of Filipino operators and laborers to other countries seeking greener pastures,” Villanueva said. “This initiative will help us in the harmonization of skills standards in the ASEAN. This can also boost efforts to set a productivity rate in the construction industry.”

Aside from ACEL,  Villanueva said the government has also signed a memorandum of understanding in Paris with the Assistance Formation Conseils aux Enterprises Group (AFCE).

The agreement with AFCE will result in more and better training opportunities for Filipino youth, especially those aiming to enter the construction industry.