THE Cebu Provincial Government will spend P100 million to develop the skills of Cebuanos, at least 15 years old, who lost their jobs during the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, it announced late Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. Through a partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), the Province aims to help the jobless Cebuanos find employment or start their own livelihood ventures.
On Wednesday, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, for the Provincial Government, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Tesda, represented by Secretary Isidro Lapeña, to collaborate on developing a province-wide program to be known as the “Sugbo Kahanas” Skills Development Program. The program is considered the first of its kind in the country, Sugbo News said. The MOA was signed at the Capitol with Vice Gov. Hilario Davide III, Tesda 7 Director Andrew Bido and Tesda Provincial Director Floro Rinca in attendance, the official news platform of the Cebu Provincial Government reported.
Under the “Sugbo Kahanas” program, Tesda would provide training through its Special Training for Employment Program, which has 70 skills training courses, among them food production, organic farming, welding and computer servicing. The new skills acquired would enable Cebuanos to attain Tesda’s much-coveted NC (National Certificate) II that gives them the opportunity to get jobs both locally and abroad. Under the MOA, the Province of Cebu is tasked not only to appropriate the funds for the training program, but also to identify and screen the participants of the scholarship program, procure the starter tool kits for the program, and provide administrative support to ensure the efficient implementation of the program.
Tesda is to download the funds from the Province of Cebu and submit regular reports on the program’s implementation.