The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in Negros Occidental has allotted P28 million for its training for work scholarships in the province, Joel Villagracia, Provincial TESDA head, told the DAILY STAR Tuesday.

Villagracia said the budget is intended for the scholars who will be trained in such sectors as agriculture, construction, information technology, automotive, electronics and other emerging industries.

The training-for-work scholarship program aims to fill the skills gaps and job requirements of priority industries and sectors with high employment demand, and to encourage technical-vocational institutions to offer programs in higher qualifications catering to in-demand industry requirements.

The program is supportive of the government's thrust of rapid, inclusive and sustained economic growth and scholars who will pass the qualification will be entitled for free training and assessment.

Villagracia said that, as of this year, TESDA in the province targets to enroll at least 4,000 scholars under the training-for-work program.

TESDA has also allocated at least P2 million for the livelihood trainings of those displaced by the Super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the northern part of the province, Villagracia said. He added that the program is ongoing in the cities of Cadiz, Talisay Silay and Sagay.

Part of the program is that the trainees will be given starter kits and tools they can use in their business after the training.

Villagracia also said he has not received complaints against private institutions claiming that their vocational and technical programs are registered by TESDA even if they are not, although such activity is being closely monitored.

In the whole province about 70 institutions have vocational and technical programs registered under TESDA.*APN

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