The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) renewed its collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Alay Buhay Foundation for its tripartite project towards sustainable development of the Central Luzon workforce through health and upskilling programs.
PCCI, through its Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) Committee, inked a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last Nov. 24 with TESDA and Alay Buhay to facilitate skills mapping activities and to identify the competencies required by industries, chambers, and related associations in Region 3.
Under the MOA, TESDA is set to provide grants based on available slots which will be implemented by Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs) related to ICT, construction, and other skills.
The institution will also offer access to various training programs that will help enterprises meet the reskilling and upskilling requirements of the current market.
Additionally, TESDA will continue to support recovery programs for enterprises after COVID. Meanwhile, the Alay Buhay Foundation, in partnership with the PCCI SDG Committee and PCCI North Luzon, will work closely with other agencies to identify and locate the most vulnerable groups and informal sector workers during the health program.
The program will include Case Finding Activities such as screening and free x-ray services. In addition, the program will provide livelihood training, mentoring, and microfinance to TB-positive individuals who wish to pursue income-generating activities after completing their treatment.
“By providing relevant and updated knowledge and training, upskilling program can help in adapting to the changing demands of the market and the economy,” PCCI President George T. Barcelon said.
“The programs that we have with TESDA can increase the employability and productivity of the workers, as well as their income and quality of life,” he added.
Further, Alay Buhay Foundation President Anton Sayo shared that they successfully conducted a TB Mass Screening program for a total of 34,191 individuals from the vulnerable population, including senior citizens, smokers, persons with co-morbidities, 4Ps, and drivers of public conveyances, between March and December last year.
He added that from January to June this year, they were also able to screen a total of 24,816 individuals, noting that these individuals were then enrolled in the TB cure regimen.
Sayo also emphasized that the program was effective in confirming TB Positives for a total of 1,206 cases from March to December 2022, and 635 cases from January to June 2023.
Moreover, the program, which involved providing TB preventive medication to relatives or persons living with TB patients, was able to provide TB preventive therapy to a total of 213 patients between March and December 2022, and 77 patients between January and June 2023, according to Sayo.
Source: Manila Bulletin BY <a href="https://mb.com.ph/author/joselie-garcia" target="_self">MA. JOSELIE C. GARCIA</a>
https://mb.com.ph/2023/11/28/pcci-tesda-alay-buhay-foundation-renew-collaboration-in-developing-region-3-workforce

PCCI, TESDA, Alay-Buhay renew collaboration for Region 3 workforce Dev't