‘Tesdaman’ eyes more jobs

CEBU, Philippines —  Senator Joel Villanueva, who is seeking re-election, is doing his rounds in Cebu again to ensure that Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)’s partnership with the local government units and industries continues.

“Isa sa mga purpose ng pagbisita is para esiguro na tuloy-tuloy ang partnership natin sa mga LGUs at mga partner industries,” said Villanueva during his visit to the Cebu City Hall last Friday.

Villanueva said, with the de-escalation of the COVID-19 alert level in the country, he is also adjusting his target for job generation to 2.5 million.

“So nandito tayo ngayon pala alamin kung saan ba manggagaling ang mga trabaho na ito. Ito ba ay sa sector ng construction, tourism, etc. How many jobs will be created in Cebu City and the Cebu Province and the entire Central Visayas?” he said.

Dubbed as “Tesdaman,” Villanueva is also visiting the state universities and colleges here as he continues to look into ways to further improve TESDA’s programs.

“We continue to do representations for SUCs…Yung Cebu Normal University, tinulungan nating magtayo ng School of Medicine for the very first time, first SUC, public school ng medicine in the entire Central Visayas and start po tayo last year. And this year, we put in mga P90 million para makatulong sa mga nais maging doctor… ito po ay isa sa ating mga pet bills na ngayon ay batas na yung doktor para sa bayan,” said Villanueva.

Villanueva also discussed, in brief, some bills, including the Magna Carta for Seafarers, he is pursuing in the Senate.

“May mga bills po tayo that are in the pipeline tulad ng magna carta for seafarers. We were just talking with the Marino Partylist (in Cebu), its already there in the floor. Meron din tayo doong dodoblihin yung pension ng ating mga senior citizens, nandun na rin sa floor, from P500 to P1,000 kasi wala ng mabili yung P500 na maintenance lang. This two, I hope kaya pa naming ipasa, pagbalik namin after the elections,” said Villanueva.

Villanueva also shared he is also fighting for unemployment insurance after one loses a job.

“Meron din po tayong sa employment on unemployment insurance. Pagnawalan ka ng trabaho, dapat may insurance ka. Ngayon, regular workers lang meron tapos two months lang from SSS. pano yung contractual,” said Villanueva.

Villanueva also has something for the senior citizens and others who have problems seeking a job because of the age factor.

“Of course yung mga senior citizens who still wanted to work,  pwede part-time, sana may mechanisms no.. And isa pang problema, yung age...When you apply for a job, pag ganito kang age hindi kana tatanggapin, wala namang kinalaman yung age sa trabaho, yun po ay ilan lamang sa gusto nating pagtuonan ng pansin,” he said.

Villanueva’s re-election bid as a senator has been backed up by most presidential candidates including Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Manny Pacquio and Pamfilo Lacson and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and vice-presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

“Nakakataba po ng puso, nakakahumble, nakaka-blessed na tayo po ay na endorse…tingin ko po ito ay dahil sa ating track record,” he said.

His track records, he said, include perfect attendance in the Senate, and 110 laws passed, among others. — Decemay Padilla, KQD (FREEMAN)