Quality skills training for tourism industry workers up
Iloilo -- To ensure that the quality of skilled workers in the country is of high standards the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) together with the Tourism Industry Board Foundation Inc. (TIBFI) has adopted the Philippines-Australia Quality Vocational Education and Training Project (PAQTVET) which had its pilot launching in Iloilo City last Wednesday (March 8).
The launching was highlighted by a signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the TIBFI and the Iloilo City Convention Bureau (ICCB) recognizing the latter as the local industry body for assessment and certification in the tourism industry of Iloilo.
PAQTVET is an Australian Aid for International Development (AusAID) funded project that will assist Tesda in transforming the country's technical vocational education and training (TVET) into an effective and efficient industry-led, demand driven and values-laden education and training system.
The project aims to enhance professionalism and contribute to poverty alleviation by equipping young men and women with the necessary skills to be globally competitive and address the needs of the tourism industry.
Dr. Teresa Sarabia, Board Member of the ICCB, said all hotels in the city have signified their commitment to support the project. She said, initially they will pilot test forty trainees for the project.
Tesda Regional Director Buen Mondejar expressed gratefulness for the project which, he said, could help revitalize the local tourism industry.
Mondejar noted that what is good with the project is that the industry itself will conduct assessment among the industry workers involved.
He said a worker who passes the assessment would be given a national certificate by Tesda.
Patrick Cummings, industry adviser of PAQTVET, said aside from the tourism industry the project will also cover other industry sectors such as health, information technology and communication, agriculture and fisheries.