High demand for computer, phone technicians seen

MANILA, Philippines — A high demand for computer and mobile phone technicians is seen in the country as more people adopt digital technologies amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) deputy director general Aniceto Bertiz said high school graduates and even returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) could undergo training to fill the growing demand.

“High school graduates, especially those who failed to enroll in college, (may) consider training with us for free either as computer systems servicing technicians, or as cellphone servicing technicians,” Bertiz said.

“Once they are trained, they will never run out of personal computers, laptops, tablets or mobile phones with problems to diagnose and fix. They can open their own repair shops at home, while the more enterprising ones can offer computer servicing at the customer’s location,” he added.

Returning OFWs can easily put up computer or mobile phone servicing corners in their homes, according to the TESDA official.

Bertiz said returning OFWs could send their family members or relatives to TESDA to train, and then hire them as full-time, part-time or contractual computer or mobile phone repairers.

“Computer and mobile phone servicing as a small business does not require a large startup cost. A fully trained technician, a few handy tools and a worktable are enough to get them started,” he said.

Bertiz added that the national government is spending P9 billion in 2021 for the computerization program of the Department of Education (DepEd).

“The DepEd alone will soon need hundreds of technicians to look after their digital equipment,” Bertiz said.

Local governments nationwide have also distributed tablets to public school students to help them cope with remote learning at home.