THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority is ready to train 358,000 interested workers and individuals as thousands of people have lost their jobs amid the pandemic.

“TESDA has a guiding principle, ‘TESDA Abot Lahat’, which means its services are open to everyone. We go to people in the mountains, areas that may take four hours to reach. Thus, it would be easier for us to provide free skills training to those in the cities, and other areas nearby,” TESDA Deputy Director-General for Operations Lina Sarmiento said.

Sarmiento stressed TESDA takes into consideration the skills needed in different areas, saying the courses it offers are demand-driven.

“Logistics is among the industries with high demand for manpower these days, especially due to the rise in the demand for delivery services. TESDA has received requests from logistics firms if we could provide them with graduates,” Sarmiento continued.

She added TESDA offers community-based training.

“This is useful for the informal sector since they would not need to go to TESDA centers or accredited schools. Those who learn from us, those who enrolled in baking, for example, they sell their products online,” she said.

To further help the enrollees find a wider range of employment opportunities, TESDA also requested the Inter-Agency Task Force to allow them to open the assessment centers.