AN OFFICIAL of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) said the agency has appropriated P60 million for a scholarship program on technical and vocational courses for people in Pampanga.
During the Pampanga Press Club's media forum at Widus Hotel and Casino, Tesda provincial director Jaime Castillo said P20 million was spent during the first quarter and another P60 million will be used in the program scheduled until October this year.
"We have a total budget na na-consume during the last semester na around P20 million for the province of Pampanga. We have another P20 million roughly for the second semester covering total slots of 1,600 plus. And then we proposed another third batch of P20 million covering 2,000 or more scholarship slots," Castillo said.
All of these [funds] will be consumed this semester until October this year, according to the Tesda provincial director.
"Kaya po ina-announce namin sa lahat na may ganitong scholarship program so that those who are interested may avail especially those coming from the marginalized sector," Castillo added.
Interested individuals may apply directly to the agency's provincial office, the official said.
"Paano po ba ito i-avail? They can apply directly doon sa ating provincial office so that we can refer them to the accredited institutions having scholarship program sa mga courses na gusto nilang kunin," he said.
Applicants may also go directly to the Tesda training institutions that have available scholarship slots, according to Castillo.
Tesda prioritized applicants who are from the marginalized sectors including farmers and fishermen, migrant workers, indigenous people, persons with disability, senior citizens, urban poor, solo parents, overseas Filipino workers, human trafficking victims, rebel returnees, inmates, coop members, wounded in action, among others.
Republic Act 7796 or the Technical Educational and Skills Development Act of 1994 was created "to provide relevant, accessible, high quality and efficient technical education and skills development in support of the development of high quality Filipino middle-level manpower responsive to and in accordance with Philippine development goals and priorities.”
Castillo said the law encourages stakeholders including industries, labor, local government units to participate in the development of technical and vocational courses.
"Our mandate is technical vocational training, assessment and certification," he added.