REMAI ALEJADO
Online news contributor
With these trying and difficult times affecting Filipinos, education should be a means for meeting up the predicament, this was the clear-cut message of the two congressmen of the province.
Representatives Victor Yu and Antonio Cerilles, who met some 500 high school graduates enrolling as vocational scholars of the Technical Education Skills and Development Administration (Tesda), added that learning should be the center of attention among the youth of today.
The said gathering at TESDA is for the enlistment for the provision of vocational and livelihood skills training and scholarships for qualified trainees and students in Zambosur.
This is a joint program to be funded from the budgets of the two congressmen and TESDA. Both Yu and Cerilles counterparted P2-million each for this.
Half of the funding for the scholarship program will come from the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Program administered by TESDA.
Some livelihood courses to be offered under the program include reflexology, consumer electronics, cell phone repair, commercial cooking, hotel and restaurant services, and jewelry making.
Whatever learning one enrolls into—whether occupational, professional, career or technical skills—what is important is employment and a better future for the students, Cerilles said.
“Someday you will become parents, raise families and you will be breadwinners. Unsaon ninyo pagbuhi sa inyong mga anak kung wala moy hustong panginabuhi?” he asked.
“Kami sa probinsya pinanguluhan ni Gobernadora Aurora Enerio-Cerilles naglantaw gayud sa inyong maayong kaugmaon. This is the main reason that we established the JH Cerilles State College in the province as we want to reach out tertiary education near to your doorsteps,” Cerilles continued.
“But we thought it is not enough because of the demand of practical and technically skilled manpower abroad like caregivers, welders, heavy equipment operators among others,” the congressman from the second district added.
“Mas dali mo makatrabaho with technical courses that would lead you to work abroad. Ayaw mo pag-yaya-yaya, payapa-yapa. Do your best to absorb what your instructors teaching you,” Cerilles urged.
For his part, Yu encouraged the applicants to learn any skills for future employment. “By this year, we expect 11-million Filipinos without jobs because of the global economic crisis. With skills learned, one can still land a job and earn.”
The businessman-turned-politican then shared his experience while on his way to Manila when he shared a seat and had a chat with a probinsiyano who worked from the Middle East as a welder.
The welder told the congressman that since he started working in the Middle East at a young age, he was able to save enough for his family so he decided to stop, come home and put up his own business in his hometown.
Another observation Yu told the students is the high paying job of bartending, suggesting further that such a job is in high demand among luxury ships with long voyages across the globe.
Meanwhile, TESDA administrative officer Fronie Dalid disclosed that aside from the
PGMA scholarship grant, their office also offers another program called Private Education Students Financial Assistance (PESFA).
PESFA, according to the TESDA Website, was established through RA 8545, the Expanded Government Assistance to students and Teachers in Private education (GASTPE) Act.
PESFA offers educational grants to qualified and deserving college freshmen both in degree and non-degree courses with both CHED and TESDA handling the administration of the program for degree and non-degree, respectively.
The program will extend financial assistance to marginalized but deserving students in post secondary non-degree TVET courses, contribute to the development of a competent skilled work force; and assist private institutions in their development efforts by assuring a steady supply of enrollees to their course offerings.
Courses offered through PESFA include commercial cooking, bartending, household service worker, housekeeping, masonry, plumbing, heavy equipment operation, computer servicing, computer electronic services, shielded metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, health care services, Horticulture, Health care services and massage therapy.