‘Government needs to strengthen tech-voc, skills training’

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go urged the government to reinforce technical and vocational education as well as skills training (TVET) programs to help jobseekers after the COVID-19 crisis is over.

He said reinforcing TVET programs responsive to the needs of the local economy is essential in accelerating development in the countryside by giving Filipinos more economic opportunities to bounce back from the current crisis.

“Having an educated and skilled workforce will accelerate development in the countryside and will provide more economic opportunities to Filipinos to help them recover from this crisis,” he added.

Go urged the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to reinforce programs in the provinces and make them attuned and updated to the changing business requirements in the countryside.

Go also urged TESDA to coordinate its efforts and collaborate with various government agencies, such as the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Economic and Development Authority as well as local government units, to match skills with the jobs that will be made available in the provinces.

In one of the meetings held for the Balik Probinsya Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program, TESDA director general Isidro Lapeña shared they are aligning their programs and enhancing courses in agriculture, health and construction. 

Many economists expect these sectors to bounce back faster than other industries after overcoming the COVID-19 outbreak.

As a BP2 proponent, Go sees the program as a way to decongest Manila, strengthen the capability of government to respond better to crises, and boost the economy of the provinces.

He urged the executive branch, particularly concerned agencies and LGUs, to execute their plans immediately in support of its objectives as more Filipinos have expressed willingness to go back to the provinces after what they experienced during the COVID-19 crisis.