Dole, Tesda ink ties to strengthen pathways for more job opportunities

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) have partnered to provide seamless pathways for job opportunities and entrepreneurship for beneficiaries.

Dole and Tesda signed a joint memorandum circular (JMC) on Wednesday as the agencies committed to establish a framework to strengthen employment facilitation, livelihood support, and technical vocational education and training programs.

In a press release, the TESDA highlighted a key feature of the agreement called as “graduation system,“ which supports pathways toward sustainable employment or livelihood, such as transitioning Tupad (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) beneficiaries into Tesda scholarship programs and job placement opportunities or advancing Tesda Step (Special Training for Employment Program) graduates to Dole’s Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).”

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Tesda Secretary Kiko Benitez said that through this partnership, “Filipino learners and workers are not left on their own after training.”

The Dole also said that through the JMC, beneficiaries will be provided job opportunities or livelihood programs based on their skills, socioeconomic profile, and career aspirations.

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino described the initiative as “catch-all Filipinos” where the agency’s short-term job opportunities under the TUPAD program will transition into a long-term and sustainable economic relief for the beneficiaries.

“Ang ating ginagawa po dito ay pagsasanib-pwersa ng isang pamilyang ahensya na magbibigay ng isang malawakang oportunidad sa mga Pilipino, lalong-lalo na sa mga kabataan, na magkaroon ng pagkakataon na makapag sanay, at balang araw ay magkaroon din ng negosyo,” Tolentino said in a separate press release.

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Dole then noted that the agreement allows youth beneficiaries to avail opportunities to participate in Tesda training and receive financial support to launch their businesses. Beneficiaries of the Tupad and DILP programs may also be referred to other Tesda training programs to improve their skills and employability.

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The agreement will also implement the “Anti-Double Dipping Policy” to promote equal opportunities for all beneficiaries. This feature allows strengthened verification processes to ensure that they will not avail themselves of similar benefits from both agencies.

Other features of the agreement include community-based enterprise groups where beneficiaries will be grouped into at least five members with the same skillset to promote collective enterprises. Both agencies also agreed to a data-sharing network to ensure proper beneficiary validation, monitoring, and tracking. /cb

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