TAGUIG CITY - The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has renewed its strong commitment and dedication to continue its efforts of upskilling and reskilling overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), especially those displaced by recent global crises.

TESDA Director General Danilo P. Cruz said OFWs and their families have always been part of TESDA’s priority clients when it comes to the provision of skills training and livelihood programs.

“We have several training programs that can benefit our displaced OFWs and their dependents, especially those who were displaced by the recent pandemic.  Whether they

are here or abroad, they can easily avail of these programs,” he said.

DG Cruz noted that the Agency has put up OFW desks in all international airports in the country while its field offices have also put up the same and designated their OFW focal who will assist the displaced workers.

“All they have to do is to reach out to the TESDA office in their area or as easy as to download the TESDA Mobile App to access our programs and services,” he added.

In the first half of this year, a total of 5,021 OFWs had already finished various TESDA courses.  Entrepreneurship, Driving NC II, Bread and Pastry Production NC II, and Caregiving NC II were among the most popular choices taken by repatriated OFWs.

Likewise, OFW dependents or families also continue to receive training from TESDA.  From January to June 2022, a total of 5,276 OFW dependents graduated from various qualifications.

DG Cruz also explained that TESDA has also been assisting displaced OFWs under its OFW Reintegration for Skills Employment (RISE) Program which is being implemented with the help of the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), and Coca-Cola Philippines.

The OFW-RISE Program offers returning OFWs an online course that can be accessed in the TESDA Online Program (TOP) to enable them to transform their business ideas into business plans.

In addition, OFWs and their dependents, as well as the general public can access the TOP which offers online courses such as Practicing COVID-19 Preventive Measures in the Workplace, Barangay Health Services NC II, Food Processing NC II, Cookery NC II, among others.

“We are not just providing livelihood programs to OFWs but also to the general public. With the new administration, we commit to improving our programs to produce highly-skilled and globally-competitive workers who can adapt to the ever-changing demand of the industry,” Cruz said. (TESDA)