Saturday, September 13, 2008 Tesda offers program to boost labor skills
THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in Southern Mindanao is offering a program that will further boost the skills of the labor resources by exposing them to companies in Japan.
Silvano Maranga, Tesda-Southern Mindanao regional director, said in an interview Wednesday that the program dubbed as the Japan International Training Cooperation (Jitco) is an initiative enabling Filipinos to be trained in Japan for six months.
"We need to promote this program here because only a few people know about this. This initiative was arranged by both the Japan and the Philippine governments," Maranga said.
The program, he said, will provide trainees with free medical exams and transportation plus an allowance of 70,000 to 80,000 yen.
"We have a sending institution here which is registered under the Jitco. It is the one who screens and assesses trainees," Maranga said, adding that after a trainee will pass the screening process, he will be sent to Japan and will be received by an accepting institution, also registered under the Jitco.
Maranga claimed that in Davao City, only a few have availed of the program, saying there are only six applicants at present.
"The applicant/trainee will not spend money for his training in Japan. He will just have to prepare his passport," Maranga said.
So far, Maranga disclosed that the applicants who wish to avail of the program are into agriculture-related skills, specifically into poultry farming.
Maranga said this provides local manpowers' skills to be exposed and be enhanced, helping Filipinos compete in the global market. (JGRS)
