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Omicron a reminder to reskill, upskill

January 13, 2022 Mario Fetalino Jr. 361 views

Mario FetalinoTHE rise of COVID-19 cases in the country brought by its new variant Omicron tells us one thing — the pandemic is still very much around to continue affecting our way of life especially in the aspect of employment and livelihood.

Although the end of the crisis would definitely come, simply waiting for it would be very costly for us as the lingering outbreak cuts our actual earnings and even potential revenues.

So we need to reskill and upskill ourselves to cope with this problem. For businesses, they need to focus on reskilling and

Upskilling their people to adapt to changes especially those brought about by the pandemic.

The Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), the training arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, is looking at sector development, identifying skills that are in demand, and necessary skills and competencies that can respond to the requirements of the industry.

“We have seen a lot of changes. A lot of changes happened because of the pandemic. A lot of new in-demand skills came out resulting from the development, also resulting from the pandemic, and digital transformation and all these things,” PTTC Executive Director Nelly Nita Dillera said.

She added industry players themselves are involved in the development of training courses or modules.

Rosalina Constantino, executive director at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, said “Tulong Trabaho (Job Assistance)” is the latest addition to the agency’s scholarship programs that seek to reskill and upskill target beneficiaries, including employed workers.

“We have actually revisited the implementing guidelines in order to integrate the new normal arrangements in the implementation of Tulong Trabaho scholarship, and in order to provide additional assistance to affected industries and displaced workers due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

Constantino said the coverage of the training program that will be funded under the scholarship program shall include industry-specific and area-based skills requirements proposed by companies, industry groups, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“This allows the private sector to really have a say in determining what are the priority areas that need particular attention when it comes to trade,” she said.

Constantino added the Tulong Trabaho scholarship program can help the MSMEs as target beneficiaries include employed workers who seek skilling, upskilling or reskilling.

It also equips workers with skills in emerging and new industries, and provides them with high-level technical skills, she added.

Meanwhile, its a relief government said there will no longer be hard lockdowns amid the spike in cases of COVID-19, made worse by the more transmissible Omicron variant.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry said they were assured by Department of Trade and Industry officials that the government will not implement massive lockdowns anymore.

Instead, restrictions will be focused on the unvaccinated.

“We are happy that the government is no longer imposing hard lockdowns as a safeguard measure against increasing Omicron cases. Otherwise, it would be difficult again for our economy to recover if businesses will be shut down,” PCCI chief George Barcelon said.

He also extended the request of the largest business group for inclusion in the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases so they can properly relay the issues and recommendations of the sector.

Lopez said the high level of vaccination rate and the medical treatment already available have led to easing some protocols for vaccinated instead of implementing a total lockdown.

He added that the “no vax, no labas (going out)” policy could be expanded nationwide.

The IATF may also allow the use of home antigen testing to add another layer of protection as the asymptomatic can detect if they are positive for the virus.

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