30 March 2011
Thousands of skilled workers and returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have turned up in the regional offices of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for its week-long free assessment and certification nationwide.
On its first day alone, a total of 4,767 had been assessed by TESDA when it opened Monday the NATCAC week or the National Technical-Vocational Education Training Competency Assessment and Certification while a total of 3, 612 positions in various industries here and abroad had been made available for those who attended the event.
The number of those who had been assessed by TESDA during the opening was 18 percent of the agency's 26,278 target from March 28 to April 1.
The industrial region of Region IV-A (CALABARZON) registered the highest number of participants with 1,113 out of the 4,064 target for the region.
This was followed by Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) with 469 out of 1,195; Region III (Central Luzon) with 344 out of 2,540; Region V (Bicol) had 340 out of 1,568; Region VII (Central Visayas) had 317 out of 1,838; and Region XI (Davao Region) had 289 out of 1,500.
National Capital Region had 281 out of 3,520; Region 1 (Ilocos region) had 269 out of 1,235; Region X (Northern Mindanao) had 229 out of 1,190; Region VI (Western Visayas) had 159 out of 1,182; Region XII (SOCSARGEN) had 123 out of 955; and Cordillera Autonomous Region had 106 out of 1,092.
Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) had 92 out of 893, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with 63 out of 171, and Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) with 56 out of 777.
TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva was elated by the success of the NATCAC week.
“The success of the opening of the NATCAC week gives us the encouragement to continue this roadshow for the benefit of our graduates and overseas Filipino workers who badly need jobs,” Villanueva said.
"The assessment will give them the chance to be a Sertipikadong Pinoy (Certified Filipino Worker), and having this title will be a plus factor for their prospective employers," he further said.
Aside from free assessment and certification, the NATCAC week also featured various services from TESDA such as the jobs fair and free trainings.
A total of 3, 612 positions in various industries here and abroad had been made available for those who participated in the event--34 were hired on the spot at the TESDA central office in Taguig City, while 463 were scheduled for further interview.
Hundreds also attended free training and free services such as medical, dental, vaccination, and hair cut.
Villanueva said he hopes that more skilled workers and returning OFWs will undergo the assessment during the week.
This week's NATCAC was the first in a series of three nationwide assessment and certification for skilled workers and returning OFWs.
Assessment and certification are also scheduled in June and October to meet the agency's target 60,000 beneficiaries.
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