THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority continues to provide skills training to overseas Filipino workers who lost their jobs because of the pandemic.

In 2020, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña launched the “TESDA Abot Lahat ang OFWs,” the agency’s banner program which focuses on the upskilling and retooling not only of OFWs but also their dependents.

One of the beneficiaries, Hindon Usman, who used to work in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, shared that she started her TESDA journey when her sister introduced to her the Taha M. Basman Memorial Islamic Foundation, Inc. or known as the TAHA Foundation.

The TAHA Foundation is a partner of the TESDA Women’s Center, one of the training centers in Taguig City.

Usman enrolled in Electrical Installation Maintenance NC II at TWC last January and finished the course in March.

“Nakakatuwang isipin  na napatunayan ko na kahit sino kaya ‘tong gawin regardless sa kung ano man ang sekswalidad o kasarian nila,” she said.

Usman urged Filipinos, particularly repatriated OFWs, to train under TESDA, adding that having a National Certificate is an advantage especially in applying for work abroad.

“Huwag [kang] mag-doubt na mag-enroll sa mga panlalaking course. Mas maganda ‘yung takot mo harapin mo. Enjoyin mo lang ang napili mong kurso at go ka lang nang go,” she said.

In 2021, TESDA trained 27,452 OFWs and their dependents, of which 10,341 were already certified as skilled workers.

The top courses among the OFWs and their dependents in 2021 were Entrepreneurship, Bread and Pastry Production NC II, Driving NC II, Domestic Work NC II, and Caretaker II.

“We, in TESDA, always try to be more responsive to the needs of our kababayans. In the case of our repatriated OFWs, we make our services more accessible and we train them to be equipped enough for new jobs or livelihood so they can continue to provide for their families even after they lost their jobs overseas,” Lapeña said.