April 8, 2019
Technical Education and Skills Training Authority (TESDA) Director General Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar sealed Monday the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signalling the start of on-site skills training of construction workers.
It can be recalled that secretaries Lapeña and Villar met last March 5 to discuss collaboration in order to ensure the needed supply of manpower required by the Build Build Build infrastructure project of the administration.
Following the said meeting and the previous Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) in February 2019 and 2006, the TESDA and DPWH has partnered with the Philippine Constructors Association Inc. (PCA) and the local government units (LGUs) to develop and implement free skills training in DPWH sites to speed up the Build Build Build projects.
The MOU provides for the tasks and obligations of the two parties in implementing the Project-based On-site Learning of Skilled Construction Professionals (PPOL SCoP). The on-site learning will also help address the learning gaps based on the competency standards required by the construction companies.
PPOL SCoP is also in accordance with the recently launched Philippine Construction Industry Roadmap dubbed as “Tatag at Tapat 2020-2030” on March 28.
The on-site trainings will have a Training Plan drafted by the In-company Trainers/Construction Superintendents /Supervisors/ Foremen/ Lead men; will be based on the actual work processes done in the sites; and will establish a model of an on-site delivery mechanism that could facilitate technology transfer of industry on-site learnings.
TESDA, DPWH, LGUs, PCA, and accredited construction companies will implement these skills trainings and will allocate the necessary funding for the conduct of the PPOL SCoP. Regional and provincial offices of both TESDA and DPWH will mainly carry out the specific functions detailed in the MOU.
TESDA will specifically be in charge of the main development of training regulations and implementation of the construction courses in the sites. They will also facilitate the assessment with the accredited trainers for the construction companies and provide scholarship grants to workers who want to avail the onsite trainings. National certificates after the training will also be issued by the regional offices.
DPWH, on the other hand, will coordinate with the construction sites and encourage them to allow the implementation of the PPOL SCoP. They will also partner with the LGUs in identifying the bona fide residents that are required to be hired by the construction companies according to RA 6685. Additionally, they will help TESDA in developing the learning materials to be used for the on-site skills trainings.
Both TESDA and DPWH are expected to efficiently work together in developing more skilled construction workers, trainers, and assessors that are at par with the present industry standards. Bringing the training closer to the residents will also help increase job opportunities to the community people.
TESDA, under Secretary Lapeña’s supervision, continues to develop projects that are in line with its advocacy of social equity and a job/livelihood after training. PPOL SCoP will also help address the present skills and job mismatch issues in the country.
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