07 September 2013

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has announced its offering of free assessment and certification for messman and ships' cook who have employment contracts and are about to leave the country within the next five days.
 
Starting September 9, TESDA will conduct the free competency assessment, according to a circular issued by the agency and signed by Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA director general.

Villanueva said TESDA will subsidize the cost of the assessment for Ships’ Catering Services NC I and Ships’ Catering Services NC II under the agency’s National Competency Assessment and Certification System (NATCAC). 

"As the Philippines keeps its standing as one of the world's main source of seafarers, we want to make sure that competency of our workers is at the top of our agenda," Villanueva said.

TESDA has recently deployed new Training Regulations on Ships' Catering Services in compliance with the requirements of Regulation 3.2 of the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) 2006, which came into force on August 20.

Graduates of the course who will undergo the assessment will be evaluated on practical cookery, food and personal hygiene, food storage, stock control, environmental protection and catering and health and safety.

To ensure the integrity of the assessment exercise, competency assessors will be assigned by the provincial or district directors on a rotation basis.  TESDA technical representatives will also be assigned to oversee the assessment.

The National Certificate of those who will pass will be issued within five working days from the date of assessment.

Applicants may apply for assessment at the TESDA MuntiParLas-TaPat District Office located at Building 8 at the TESDA Complex, East Service Road, South Luzon expressway,Taguig City. For further information, they  maycall at 810-5813 or 887-7777.

Requirements for the assessment can be downloaded from the TESDA website www.tesda.gov.ph.