BRIDGING THE GAP: TESDA XI presents new initiatives to partner agencies for ‘Build, Build, Build’ program
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) region 11 presented new initiatives to several partner agencies and construction firms in the city its various proposed solutions to address the
TESDA XI Regional Director Gaspar S. Gayona discusses TESDA’s proposed solutions to the challenges of the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program with the partner agencies and construction companies.
challenges of the implementation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.
TESDA Regional Director Gaspar S. Gayona himself discussed the proposals to the invited agencies involved in the construction industry during the Consultation Meeting on Required Skills in the Construction Industry on Friday, March 23, 2018 at the Pinnacle Hotel and Suites in Davao City.
Dir. Gayona cited that the depleted volume of construction workers, limited institutions engaged in the competency development of construction workers and inadequate number of trainers and assessors are among the primary challenges of the administration’s infrastructure program.
One of the highlights of the proposal is TESDA’s offer to provide scholarship programs to 2nd year to 5th year engineering and BS Technology students given that they will be immersed or deployed to construction firms during semestral or summer breaks. In return, the students will be awarded with National Certificates and have industry experience even when they are still studying.
Dir. Gayona added that to solve the lack of trainers, the students will also be trained as junior trainers and be utilized as trainers as well in the future.
The regional director also urged the construction companies to have their foremen and supervisors acquire National Certificates so they can also become as trainers. He also suggested the local government units to require their civil engineers to do the same. Engineering graduates are also encouraged to acquire NCs.
Apart from the scholarship programs for the students, TESDA also offered to provide free as
(From left to right) Officials from Max Builder Const., ACIW, DCASI, DPWH XI, MDC, and pose along with TESDA XI Regional Director Gaspar S. Gayona (center) after the Consultation Meeting at the Pinnacle Hotel and Suites, March 23, 2018.
sessment to the construction workers of construction companies who have not yet acquired NCs. The construction firms were urged to submit a list of the said workers so TESDA can prepare the free assessment and the issuance of national certificates.
“We have more than enough scholarship funds,” Dir. Gayona assured.
Meanwhile, officials from the construction companies responded positively to the proposal and agreed to send their respective recommendation and draft proposed guidelines on how to improve, implement and fast track the process of the initiatives presented.
To further disseminate the proposal, TESDA XI is set to conduct a Mindanao-wide Contractors Summit on April 10, 2018. Officials from state and local universities, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and representatives from the construction companies all over Mindanao are expected to join the said event. The summit aims to come up with an agreement and resolution that the proposed solutions be piloted in Mindanao. (TESDA XI-ROD)
