MANILA, Philippines—Direct descendants of World War II veterans and retirees of the Armed Forces of the Philippines can now get free training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

In a press statement, TESDA said its director general Augusto Syjuco and Eduardo Pilapil, national chairman of the World War II Heritage Organization (WWHO), signed a memorandum of agreement providing for training scholarships for descendants of veterans and military retirees.

Under the agreement, WWHO recruits qualified scholars for free training at TESDA schools and accredited training institutions. It would ensure these trainees pass TESDA's skills assessment so they can immediately get a job.

TESDA has set aside P1 million for the training scholarships, funded from its Training for Work Scholarship program. Children and grandchildren of veterans and retirees of the AFP can avail themselves of grants to train in highly in-demand skills and courses under
TESDA's ladderized education program.

"We are happy to offer [this] to the children and grandchildren of our soldiers and veterans who have sacrificed much for our freedoms. With the training grants, they could learn in-demand skills and quickly get jobs after the training," Syjuco said.

The agreement is part of TESDA's expanded and strengthened effort encouraging young Filipinos to enroll in technical and vocational courses, and learn skills demanded by the local and global employment market such as welding.