Vargas urges ‘refocus’ on TESDA skills training programs
QUEZON City Rep. Alfred Vargas has proposed a refocusing of the skills training programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to align with the job generation targets of the incoming administration of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr.
Vargas said certain industries deemed crucial to economic recovery would need more skilled workers, but skills mismatch remains a problem.
“We need to align the needs of key industries like manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism with the level of skills and training of workers. These industries are important to the incoming administration’s goal of addressing the unemployment and underemployment problems caused by the pandemic and revitalizing the economy,” Vargas said.
He proposed more skills training partnerships between TESDA, schools, local government units (LGUs), and the private sector.
These partnerships should guide the needs of particular industries, on-the-job training (OJT) for students, and guaranteed employment.
“With the economy opening up, we have more Filipinos looking for work but may not have the skills needed by employers. Through multi-sectoral partnerships at the level of LGUs, we can identify the needed skills at the local level, retool the training programs, and provide immediate employment,” he said.
Vargas said these partnerships would benefit LGUs and small tourism establishments in the provinces categorized as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
He said that many of these small tourist establishments in the provinces have been affected by the pandemic, particularly the imposition of travel and capacity restrictions at its height.
“With more tourism establishments resuming operations or opening for business, we need to ensure that they have skilled staff to meet the growing demands,” he added.
Vargas said in 2020, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported that around 99.5% of the country’s business enterprises were classified as MSMEs, generating around 63% of the country’s total employment.
TESDA offers tourism course programs for LGUs, where successful graduates are deemed qualified to work as tourist information officers, travel advisers, and concierge agents.
The agency also offers tour operations, reservations, ticketing, and travel documentation courses.
Through its online training program, TESDA offers courses in tourism-related skills such as bread and pastry making, cookery, food and beverage services, front office services, and housekeeping.
A total of 23,818 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) or their dependents enrolled in these courses from March to December 2020.
Vargas added that introducing measures to synchronize TESDA’s programs with the tourism sector’s needs is especially urgent to “catalyze” post-pandemic economic recovery.
“With the appointment of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, we are confident that the tourism industry’s recovery will accelerate all over the country. A whole-of-government approach to support Secretary Frasco’s vision will be indispensable, and TESDA and other government agencies have valuable roles to play in realizing our common goal of prosperity for our fellow Filipinos in the tourism sector,” Vargas said.
