TAGUIG CITY -- Caregiving NC II is still the most in demand training course of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) as of June 2021.

Based on the latest data released by the agency, about 1,299 finished their training in Caregiving NC II or 11.56 percent of the total number of OFWs who trained under various TESDA training courses this year.

The said total number of OFW trainees, who finished the said training course, rose from 781 which was recorded last April 2021.

TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña explained that this is because of the rising demand for caregivers in other countries like Israel.

"Other countries admire our good traits as Filipinos and we, in TESDA, maximize the potential of our caregivers by equipping them with enough knowledge and world class competency in caregiving," he said.

It was November last year when the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration announced that 500 Filipino caregivers are needed in Israel under a government-to-government scheme with no placement fee required.

Lapeña also added that the agency continues to strengthen its Caregiving NC II training and assessment facilities around the country, now that COVID-19 restrictions are gradually relaxing.

"This is part of our efforts in giving our OFWs the adequate service that they need in line with President Duterte's directive. We will always make sure that 'TESDA Abot Lahat ang OFWs,'" he assured.

"TESDA Abot Lahat ang OFWs" is a TESDA program launched June last year to help upskill OFWs who are being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, other OFWs made Driving NC II the second in demand TESDA training course with 1,190 graduates or 10.59 percent recorded as of June 2021.

This is followed by Bread and Pastry NC II with 915 graduates or 8.14 percent of the total 11,240 OFWs who graduated in various TESDA training courses in the first half of this year. Around 5,558 of them are either returning or repatriated while 5,682 are their dependents.

Most of them are coming from Region VI (Western Visayas) with a total number of 1,021; followed by Region VII (Central Visayas) with 595; and Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) with 470. (TESDA)