Tesda launches mobile training vans

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority held its Trainees’ Day at the University of Cebu (UC) Mambaling campus on May 4.

The activity highlighted the launching of Tesda Park and Train Mobile vans that offer short-term courses, such as commercial cooking, housekeeping, front office services, bread and pastry, bartending, computer programming and food and beverage services, welding and pipefitting.

Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva said the program is an alternative for students who cannot afford to get a bachelor’s degree course.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who was also present during the program, said students should not only focus on the educational requirements to get a job but also on the technical know-how through Tesda.

He said many students get four-year courses but they end up getting idle, unemployed after their graduation. He cited as an example the oversupply of nurses and engineers. “Ang mahitabo maghinobra ang nurses ug engineers,” he said.

He told Villanueva to continue the good works and in the end “God will reward you.” “You’ll see what you get and get what you see,” he added, eliciting cheers from the crowd as he based his message from the school’s acronym, UC.

After their respective messages on stage, Villanueva turned over scholarship funding to barangay Alang-alang in Mandaue City for massage (hilot), barangay Apas in Cebu City for bartending, barangay Labogon in Mandaue for bartending and barangay Poblacion, Compostela town in northern Cebu for metal arc painting and barangay Pacuan in La Libertad, Negros Oriental, among others.

Villanueva, together with Rama and UC Chancellor Candice Gotianuy then proceeded to the school grounds for the ribbon cutting, blessing and turnover of the vans to Tesda-accredited schools like UC, Benedicto College, St. James Academy of Compostela, Cebu Science of Welding Skills and Technology Inc., Center for Healthcare Professions and MGB Skills Development and Assessment Center.

The event also included free services at the university gymnasium by Tesda specialistas, such as cell phone repair, massage therapy, hair cutting, vital signs taking and motorcycle repair, as well as skills demonstration on bartending.

Government agencies also set up stalls at the gym to accommodate the transacting public. Among them were Pag-Ibig, PhilHealth, National Statistics Office, Social Security System, National Bureau of Investigation, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Department of Labor and Employment. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT TITO P. TAN