THE Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) has launched YouthWorks PH, a P1.7 billion five-year youth training and employment project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (Usaid).
PBEd executive director Love Basillote led the launching of YouthWorks PH on Thursday, November 22, and was joined by Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar and other partner agencies and stakeholders.
The PBEd is the business community’s response to the need for sustained and strategic education reform in the Philippines.
“This launch brings together our partners from Zamboanga City who will work with us in ensuring a productive future for youth not in education, employment or training (NEET),” Basillote said.
She said that local education institutions and companies will be offering training programs to youth NEET to prepare them for eventual work.
The PBEd director said Zamboanga City is one of the project’s pilot sites for its first year of implementation, owing to its growth sectors in agriculture, construction, hospitality and tourism, and manufacturing.
YouthWorks PH aims to reach out at least 8,500 youth NEET in this city in the next five years. Those aged 18-24 and finished at least high school are eligible to apply to training programs offerred by YouthWorks PH partners.
YouthWorks PH aims to make education and training more responsive to the needs of the economy by working with the government, industry and academe to provide opportunities to youth NEET.
Zamboanga City is the third site the YouthWorks PH was launched.
The project launched its first site in Cagayan de Oro City in October and in Cebu City last week.
PBEd is also rolling out the project in Metro Manila, Iloilo, Davao and General Santos City next year. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)