03 April 2011
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has certified more than half of the workers and students who underwent its free week-long skills assessment and certification program, including about 200 returning overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and OFW dependents.
Out of the 11,684 assessed, a total of 6,806 were given the title of Certified Filipino Worker (Sertipikadong Pinoy), a proof of their efficiency, adeptness and excellence in their respective field of expertise.
The five-day NATCAC or the National Technical-Vocational Competency Assessment and Certification week launched by TESDA from March 28 to April 1 in their regional offices was the first in a series of assessment and certification that the agency offered free of charge for OFWs displaced from their jobs abroad, OFW dependents, skilled workers, and TESDA graduates, who seek to be a Certified Filipino Workers.
The program gathered a total of 23,898 applicants nationwide, which exceeded the agency's target of 20,000 for the first batch.
TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said the agency was prepared to assess all applicants who enlisted, but that only close to 12,000 showed up during the actual days of assessment.
He congratulated those who received the certification and urged more OFWs, skilled workers and technical-vocational graduates to participate in the next series of assessment.
"With the assessment and certification, our OFWs and TESDA graduates will have something else to show their prospective employers. It will be a plus factor for their employment here or abroad," Villanueva said.
Of those who were certified, 203 were returning OFWs and 200 were OFW dependents.
Villanueva said he hopes the TESDA certification will give fresh opportunity for the country's dollar-earners to find new employment locally or abroad.
Aside from the OFWs, TESDA also certified 1,979 skilled workers, 401 trainers, and 4,023 students.
Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) had the most number of certified workers with 1,119, followed by Region IV-4 (CALABARZON) with 960; Region XI (Davao Region) with 923; Region VII (Central Visayas) with 922; Region III (Central Luzon) with 755.
The CARAGA region came next with 617; Cordillera Autonomous Region with 613; Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) with 294; Region II (Cagayan Valley) with 293; Region I (Ilocos region) with 143.
The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao had 66 certified workers; Region VI (Western Visayas) with 40; National Capital Region with 33; Region V (Bicol) with 18; and, Region X (Northern Mindanao) with 10.
Villanueva said the trooping of applicants to their regional offices to undertake the assessment was proof that workers look up to TESDA certification as the standard when it comes to quality of work.
"Not long ago, Tech-Voc education offered by TESDA was not given much attention, but now people equate it with quality and excellence, not to mention, the stepping stone of some to pursue their education," he said.
The next series of synchronized assessment and certification are scheduled in June and October this year.
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