ADVOCACY group Philippine Business for Education signed an agreement with the Philippine Green Building Council to make information on jobs and skills training in the green building sector more accessible to Filipinos.

The collaboration with PHILGBC is through PBEd’s “A Future That Works’ project,” which is supported by the Australian government.

This initiative will set up sector skills councils (SSCs) to better align training and skills development with emerging labor market needs. AFW follows the Australian government’s jobs and skills councils model, creating SSCs as groups of industry experts focused on data-driven insights and research on labor market needs.

“We recognize that having organized skills councils able to influence the supply side of the labor market is instrumental to shaping a well-rounded workforce that can respond to the demands of the economy. This year, one of the notable milestones of the AFW project is the establishment of the Green Building SSC, which is the first of its kind in the country,” Australian Embassy Counsellor for Development Thanh Le said.

Meanwhile, PBEd Executive Director Justine Raagas said that the partnership underscores the importance of equipping workers with skills to address the challenges in their field.

“By nurturing these talents and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, we are investing in our human capital and advancing sustainability and innovation which ultimately contributes to a greener future for all,” Raagas said.

Green Building Sector Skills Council, as the fifth SSC in the Philippines, joins councils for analytics and artificial intelligence; fruit and vegetable processing; semiconductor and electronics; and healthcare sector.

The GBSSC is tasked to convene professionals, teachers, employers, and government agencies to shape the skills development agenda for the green building sector. It also aims to create roadmaps for skills in environmentally responsive and resource-efficient construction projects.