The TESDA-JITCO promise of a new life
Power nations all over Europe and the United States of America face what stands as the worst recession and economic crisis ever. Jobs from corporate giants in said countries and branches elsewhere, the Middle East and Asia included, had to be significantly cut translated into millions of job losses. Work hours had to be shortened, workforces had to be “redesigned” – multi-tasking even redefined.
The Philippines while in a longtime crisis of its own bears the brunt of said major cuts of workers in economic hubs and foreign-owned firms. For the first time in the longest time, opportunities for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) dubbed Pinoy Workers of the World (WOW) seemed shaky to say the least.
Yet not for 29 year-old Salvacion Magullado of Barangay Tuburan, Zarraga, Iloilo. Sally, as she is fondly called by friends, was all optimistic and most excited as she tried her luck in Tuesday’s trainees’ fair in Pavia, Iloilo.
Sally was among the hundreds of hopefuls, dressed up in Sunday’s best, and while seemingly nervous, bravely lined up to register and start the process of applying.
She was with three other village friends, all three of them wanted to apply for a gardening job in Japan.
The trainees’ fair was yet another project of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Japan International Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO). Here member firms of JITCO send representatives to conduct the pre-selection process and actual training thereafter to qualified applicants.
What is distinct about the TESDA-JITCO offer is that entire duration of the training is compensated between P30,000 to P40,000 a month.
For Sally, it was all worth her try though she is concerned that her lack of “full education” might affect her chances. Life was hard for her and her family that after finishing high school, she never completed her Computer Secretarial course.
At 29, Sally is now the mother of three aged 6, 3 and her youngest, 10 months old. Her husband has no steady job but they get by, she shared, by selling charcoal and accepting odd jobs.
Like her first time to apply for a “real job,” her first time to ever attend a job fair, her first time to be ever hopeful, Sally said if accepted, for the first time she knows life for her, her husband and her 3 children will be different.
She proudly shared that her years of farming back in her hometown readied her for any physical labor in the future. So Sally is ready. Global crisis notwithstanding. Meantime, she awaits word and for that phone call that will inform her if she made it or not.
Meantime too, Sally is less nervous in applying for a job. TESDA-JITCO Trainees’ Fair did it for her, empowered her to try like the rest of jobseekers do. That, for her, is her first victory already.
As such, the promise for a new life realized, thanks to TESDA and JITCO.
The TESDA-JITCO Trainees’ Fair is a brainchild of Secretary Augusto Boboy Sjyuco, TESDA Director General fully supported by wife, Second District Representative Judy Jalbuena Syjuco.
Together, the Syjuco couple delivers and implements poverty alleviation programs, a main thrust of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.