TO HELP spur economic recovery, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will expand its online training program to cover more Filipinos.

To make this possible, TESDA director general Isidro Lapeña and The Asia Foundation Deputy Country Representative in the Philippines Ethan Geary signed a memorandum of agreement on June 8 to support more jobseekers and small businesses.

Under the agreement, the two agencies will partner to bring the Go Digital ASEAN initiative’s free digital skills training to more Filipinos. Courses such as “Digital Tools for Job Seekers,” “Harnessing Social Media to Expand your Business,” and “Getting your Business Online” will be integrated to the TESDA Online Program.

Since its launch in 2012, 3,008,838 have registered to avail themselves of the program.

The Go Digital ASEAN initiative supports jobseekers and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through online skills training. The series of trainings aim to close gaps in digital literacy skills necessary for navigating the online space and to secure employment opportunities.

The program also equips MSMEs with skills to digitize their enterprise and harness social media to expand their markets and customer base.

TESDA and The Asia Foundation shall also collaborate to train trainers and conduct regular consultations to address emerging needs and concerns of the industry.

This partnership was established at the community level by Go Digital ASEAN implementing partner Pailig Development Foundation, Inc. with local TESDA Technology Institutions such as the Regional Training Center Iligan, Lanao Norte National Agro-Industrial School, Salvador Trade School, Provincial Training Center- Plaridel, Misamis Occidental, and the Cagayan de Oro Bugo School of Arts and Trades in North Mindanao.

Lapeña noted that through this partnership, TESDA will be able to reach more people, especially the disadvantaged and provide them opportunities to improve their lives.

Adding the courses from The Asian Foundation’s’ Go Digital ASEAN program to TOP will help TTIs provide value-added skills for employment and livelihood, especially during the pandemic.

“Through this digital skilling program, we will be able to prepare our learners for the digital world, bridge the digital divide, and guide and equip our jobseekers with the tools and skills for  e-commerce,” he said.

Geary said that the partnership will help Filipinos increase their employability.

“This partnership culminates and institutionalizes efforts from Go Digital ASEAN and the TESDA to ensure digital inclusion for all Filipinos,” he said.