By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority conducted free skill assessments in at least nine accredited centers in the province on June 26-27, 2018.
Open to all industry workers, career shifters, unemployed adults, technical-vocation education training (TVET) graduates, including teachers and trainers, Tesda provincial director Charito Santos said the competency assessment aims to boost the employment rate of Ilocanos here.
The Ilocos Norte-based assessment centers are among the 1,753 TESDA-accredited assessment centers nationwide which are participating in the simultaneous national assessment.
The nine assessment centers in Ilocos Norte are the Bangui Institute of Technology, Data Center College of the Philippines, Divine Word College of Laoag, IGAMA Colleges Foundation Inc., Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades, Overseas Technical Institute, Inc., Primacare Training and Development Center, Saint Gabriel International Centre for Quality Learning, Inc. and Training Institute for Hospitality Services, Inc.
According to Ms. Santos, each of the assessment centers has their unique fields of specializations. Once they passed the assessment, they give qualified applicants national certificates II and III for the following: beauty care, cookery, driving for passenger bus or straight truck, bread and pastry production, food and beverage services, bookkeeping, bartending, food and beverage services, shielded metal arc welding, electronic products assembly and servicing, health care services, technical drafting, dressmaking, housekeeping and visual graphic design among others.
“We are inviting everyone to grab the opportunity to expand your horizon and become more productive in your chosen fields of endeavor,” said Ms. Santos.
In view of the “build-build-build” program of the Duterte administration, Ms. Santos said construction companies are looking for more workers with specialized skills in construction.
In Ilocos Norte, Ms. Santos said there is a very high demand for construction workers hence they are encouraging more Ilocanos to equip themselves with necessary training on this field.