THE UNITED States Agency for International Development and Philippine Business for Education signed a partnership agreement with the provincial government of Bohol and online jobs portal FastJobs PH to train hundreds of youth.

The partnership was launched via Facebook on Friday, March 18, wherein the provincial government of Bohol formalized its commitment to facilitate government-industry-academe collaboration in promoting skills development for at least 600 youth.

The partnership will expand YouthWorks PH’s geographical reach in the Visayas region with Bohol as its new project site for recruitment and training.

FastJobs, the Philippines’ fastest growing online jobs portal, will help the youth find employment by providing a platform where the youth can access, research, apply, and participate in work-based training programs and be equipped with the necessary skills and connection in landing a job.

At least 600 blue-collar job opportunities await the youth in 40 companies in the food and beverage services, manufacturing, retail, sales and logistics sector.

“YouthWorks PH has been working to mobilize partners to achieve its mission of youth employment despite the pandemic. As a testament to the resiliency of our partners, we now have opened more than 11,000 training positions across the country, and we’ve already placed close to 3,000 youth with partners for work-based training. We are excited to welcome the Provincial Government of Bohol and FastJobs PH into our growing family,” Dr. Thomas LeBlanc, Director of USAID Philippines Office of Education, said.

“Our just cause in PBEd is to have at least half of the 3.9 million Filipino youths not in education, employment, or training taking on the world with improved skills by 2030. YouthWorks PH will contribute towards achieving this goal by giving the youth with in-demand tech-voc skills,” said PBEd Executive Director and YouthWorks PH Chief of Party Love Basillote.

“With the help of our partners, we can dare to hope for endless possibilities for our beloved youth,” she added.