THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority and the Canadian government agreed to further boost skills development in the country and to provide employment opportunities to Filipinos who want to work in Canada.

TESDA Director General Danilo Cruz and Canadian Health Minister Paul Merriman recently held a meeting and discussed technical-vocational education training development collaboration and bridging programs between Canada and the Philippines, particularly in the areas of healthcare and agriculture sector.

“Through these programs, thousands of job opportunities can potentially be created for our Filipino workers, particularly in health care and agriculture industries,” he said.

“We will continue to develop and improve our training programs for Filipinos to be equipped with the necessary skills needed in the industry and for them to have better employment opportunities here and abroad,” he added.

Also present during the meeting were TESDA Deputy Directors General Aniceto Bertiz III, Tonisito Umali, Josefino Torres, Vidal Villanueva, and other Tesda and Canadian officials.

TESDA has developed health-related courses that are suitable for jobs in Canada. These are Health Care Services NC II, Caregiving (Elderly) NC II, Caregiving (Clients with Special Needs) NC II, Caregiving (Grade Schooler to Adolescent) NC II, and Emergency Medical Services NC II.

It also has training regulations on Medical Transcription NC II, Contact Tracing NC II, Dental Hygiene NC IV, Dental Laboratory Technology Services NC I, Dental Laboratory Technology Services (Fixed Dentures/ Restorations) NC II, Dental Laboratory Technology Services (Removable Dentures/ Appliances) NC II, and Pharmacy Services NC III.

The Canadian Embassy in the Philippines has earlier announced that the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan is open to hiring hundreds of healthcare workers from the Philippines.