Provide more livelihood opportunities, Tesda urged

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — President Duterte wants the government to provide more livelihood opportunities to Filipinos through innovative measures drawn up by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority aimed at opening thousands of employment opportunities to TESDA graduates.

The President led the launch of the 911TESDA program, a free, web-based platform that connects those looking for services such as construction, transport, appliance repair and other skills with holders of TESDA National Certificate (NC) looking for job opportunities. 911TESDA can be accessed through any internet browser at www.911tesda.ph. 

“I am confident that this program will significantly contribute to our efforts to provide livelihood opportunities that will enable our people to make a decent living and, in the process, empower them to contribute to our overall growth as a nation,” Duterte said during the launch of 911TESDA at the TESDA Complex the other day.

The President said the  web-based project is “definitely responsive” to the growing demand for quality services in households, communities and enterprises by harnessing the great potential of the country’s digital online service providers.

He hopes that by providing efficient and reliable means of job application, matching and hiring, the government can promote ease in doing business and, at the same time, augment workers’ income and increase the demand for employment in the country.

As the government forges a strong network of services and job linkages in public and private technical-vocational institutions, the President expects tech-voc education and training (TVET) students and graduates to successfully land jobs that will best suit their skills.

“May you continue working with the government so we can attain our common goal of producing well-trained individuals who will become agents of positive transformation in their respective sectors,” the President said.

Duterte also highlighted employment opportunities abroad particularly as industrialized nations open up to foreign workers as a result of their aging population. These destinations include Japan, the United States and Europe.  

Mentioning the administration’s aggressive thrust to entice communist insurgents to return to the fold of the law, the Chief Executive said TESDA plays a crucial role in this initiative.

“So they can have the skills. And if jobs are not available here in the next few years, they can always go out and seek employment somewhere and they can be productive,” he said.

911TESDA will be initially available in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija (Palayan City), Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.