July 08, 2022

More Filipino workers can look forward to honing their information and communications technology (ICT) skills once the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) rolls out its new training program on cybersecurity.

TESDA Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director General Rosanna Urdaneta said that the agency will soon be offering a training program and assessment on cybersecurity to add up to its other ICT-related training courses.

“We’re excited to launch very soon this new training program on cybersecurity.  Right now, we are looking at a possible partnership with the Israeli government to help us develop the training regulation,” she said.

The TESDA OIC has tasked TESDA Executive Director for Information and Communications Technology Jeffrey Ian Dy to spearhead the crafting of the training regulation together with the Qualifications and Standards Office.  Dy has recently attended the 12th Cyberweek in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Urdaneta also cited that TESDA has already been implementing Network Security Associate Level II under Cybersecurity Selected Training Program (STP) in the National Capital Region (NCR).

This is a 120-hour No Training Regulation (NTR) program registered through the TESDA-NCR’s Recognized Industry Board.

She further explained that a program With Training Regulation (WTR) allows the graduates to undergo competency assessment and get the corresponding National Certificate.

“Apart from being trained by TESDA, the completers of the training program on cybersecurity may soon enjoy the benefits of being a National Certificate (NC) holder once the training regulation is promulgated and implemented,” she added.

Deputy Director General for TESD Operations Aniceto “John” Bertiz III noted that this initiative will be an addition to the training programs that can be granted with scholarship slots in TESDA’s training institutions and partner technical vocational institutions (TVIs) nationwide.

“Such program will redound to greater available opportunities for the Filipino workers and a strengthened workforce that can help secure our country against any cyberattacks,” he pointed out.

In 2021, a total of three batches composed of 68 scholars under the “Tulong Trabaho” Scholarship Program (TTSP) were trained on the NTR program administered by the Information and Communication Technology and Cybersecurity Industry Association (ICTCIA).

TESDA’s Training Regulations are designed in collaboration with the private sector, the academe, and other government offices primarily engaged in a specific industry to ensure it will fit with the international standards and that of the industries and employers. ###