Bridging Education and Vocational Training between PTC – Davao and Tacunan National High School

A meeting between representatives from the Provincial Training Center–Davao (PTC–Davao) and officials from Tacunan National High School (TNHS) in Barangay Tacunan, Tugbok District on July 23, 2024, marked an important milestone in improving educational outcomes. The inception of an Adopt-a-School Program occurred during this coordination meeting, aiming to strengthen the connection between academic and vocational education.

Personnel from both sides came together for the meeting. PTC–Davao was represented by Engr. Sammy S. Cameros, the Center Administrator, Jonathan D. Samillano, the Vocational Instruction Supervisor and CGAP Focal Niel Ven L. Bacalangco. The representatives from TNHS were Master Teacher I Cristina B. Florida, Brigada Coordinator and Teacher II Vincent G. Ultiano, and Teacher II Maria Rhea S. Dizon.

This initiative seeks to establish a mutually beneficial relationship between PTC–Davao and TNHS. The partnership aims to exchange expertise, enhance the skills of TNHS TVL track teachers, and provide training opportunities. This approach acknowledges the changing demands of education in a fast-paced job market, where technical and vocational skills are becoming more important.

The proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) will solidify this partnership, establishing a foundation for a structured and lasting collaboration. This agreement could be a model for future partnerships, bringing about significant changes in the education sector of Davao City and surrounding areas.

The Adopt-a-School Program exemplifies a progressive approach to education. Merging academic and vocational training seeks to enhance students’ readiness for the demands of the modern workforce. This partnership provides TNHS teachers valuable professional development opportunities to enhance their teaching methods with practical, industry-relevant skills.

This program shows an increasing acknowledgment of the necessity for comprehensive, interconnected educational methods. Encouraging collaboration across different educational institutions paves the way for eradicating educational isolation and nurturing graduates with versatile expertise.

TESDA, BEPA AND LGUs EMPOWER COMMUNITIES THROUGH ELECTRICAL SKILLS TRAINING

TESDA Davao City District Office, along with the Provincial Training Center – Davao and Barangay Electricians Practitioners Administration (BEPA), launched a major initiative in Brgy. Baganihan, Marilog District, Davao City on July 22, 2024. The program’s goal is to empower residents and improve community self-sufficiency through Skills Training in Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II.
 
Key figures from local government, technical education, and the power industry have joined forces in this collaborative effort. Among the attendees were City Councilor Alberto T. Ungab of the 3rd District of Davao City, Acting District Director Myrna C. Roa, Center Administrator Engr. Sammy S. Cameros, CTEC Focal Ivy Margate, and Hon. Arnold S. Angit, Barangay Captain of Brgy. Baganihan.
 
BEPA’s leadership, including Engr. Jonathan Medalla, Chairman and Supervisor at Davao Light and Power Company and Vice Chairman Engr. Charlo Deniega, brought industry expertise to the program. Their involvement suggested a curriculum aligned with current industry standards and practices.
 
The initiative targets aspiring electricians from three barangays: Baganihan, Datu Salumay, and Buda. By offering thorough training, the program aims to establish a group of certified barangay electricians. This approach guarantees the presence of skilled professionals in these communities and creates job opportunities for participants.
 
This program represents a forward-thinking approach to community development. By investing in local skills and human capital, it addresses immediate needs for electrical services while potentially stimulating economic growth in these barangays. This program can be a blueprint for similar initiatives elsewhere, showing how focused skills training can empower individuals and strengthen communities.
 
It will be important to track the effects of skills training on employment rates, community electrification projects, and overall electrical service quality in the target barangays. The success of this initiative could create opportunities for expanded training programs and enhanced collaboration between government, TESDA, and industry sectors in meeting community needs.

PTC – Davao conducts Training Induction Program to Aspiring Bakers in Brgy. Sirib

A Training Induction Program (TIP) for skills training in Bread and Pastry Production NC II was conducted by the TESDA Provincial Training Center–Davao in Barangay Sirib, Calinan District, Davao City on July 1, 2024. This initiative, a component of Project BAKERS (Babaeng Aktibo Kaakibat sa Ekonomiya Ramdan ay Sagana), seeks to provide local residents, particularly women, with essential baking skills.

TIP allows scholars to familiarize themselves with TESDA’s mission and operations, and highlights the many benefits of specialized skills training under the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP). TESDA is responding to the rising demand in the food service industry by emphasizing BPP NC II, giving participants marketable skills. 

Present at the TIP were Engr. Sammy S. Cameros, the Center Administrator, Jonathan D. Samillano, the Vocational Instruction Supervisor, Niel Ven L. Bacalangco, the Registrar, and Julius . Meanwhile, Barangay Kagawad Teddy Dugasan, overseeing the Women’s Committee, joined the event. This active involvement indicates a clear focus on empowering women in the community by promoting skills development, which may help address gender disparities in employment opportunities.

The decision to hold this program in Barangay Sirib reflects TESDA’s effort to reach local communities directly through skills training through its TESDA Sa Barangay program. This approach not only makes training more accessible but also customizes it to address specific needs because of the absence of a bakery in the area.

With the local expansion of the baking and pastry industry, this training program serves as a timely intervention. This will increase the number of skilled bakers in the women’s association, potentially boosting barangay economic activity.

PTC-Davao holds TESDA Technicians Fair ‘23

As the Provincial Training Center–Davao takes on social responsibility and upskilling the Filipino workforce, the institution has launched a capability building for twenty-five (25) members of Pinoy Technicians Davao Chapter to enhance their skills in Electronic Products Assembly and Servicing (EPAS). The center provides free skills training and assessment to help them get a National Certificate in EPAS NC II.

PTC–Davao identifies the twenty-five beneficiaries to undergo the EPAS NC II training for thirty-three (33) days to equip them with the fundamental and advanced knowledge in the qualification and prepare them for the institutional and national assessment, respectively. 

To further support their training, the center organized an event dubbed “TESDA Technicians Fair ‘23” in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Davao City Field Office to provide a lecture on business name registration and entrepreneurship seminar. We wanted to assist them in establishing their own start-up business, a cellphone and electronics repair shop because most of them are self-employed. 

Ms. Rea May V. Villota, Senior Business Counselor of DTI - Davao City Field Office conducted an entrepreneurship forum entitled Entrepreneurial Mind Setting to 25 Pinoy Technicians Davao Chapter, Trainees of EPAS NC II, on its third day of staging the TESDA Technicians Fair ’23 event held at the Provincial Training Center–Davao.

She discussed the different programs and services offered by the DTI to scale up small businesses. She emphasized the importance of knowledge about consumers' and business owners' rights. Then, she presented the step-by-step process for business name registration.

This activity aimed to assist the Pinoy Technicians in using the TESDA-acquired skills to launch a business. With the support of the specialized incubation and acceleration programs provided by the agency, entrepreneurs can explore business expansion, financing, and other strategic options.

She encouraged every aspiring entrepreneur to participate in the formal economy, as the MSMEs are the backbone of the Philippine economy.

During the 4-day event, from May 23 – 26, the trainees themselves offer free cellphone repairs to TESDA employees. Also, they will display cellphone parts and accessories.

Coordination Meeting for the Completion of TESDA Training Center at Sitio Ladian

A coordination meeting took place on March 20, 2023 at the Ancestral Domain Management Office in Sitio Ladian, Brgy. Marilog Proper, Marilog District, Davao City. Marilog Proper, Marilog District, Davao City. This gathering brought together key stakeholders from TESDA Provincial Training Center–Davao (PTC-Davao), TESDA–Wangan National Agricultural School (WNAS), TESDA Regional Training Center–Korea Philippines Vocational Training Center (RTC-KPVTC), the 534 Engineering and Construction Brigade (534 ECB PA) and 27th Infantry Battalion (27IB PA) of the Philippine Army, Obu-Manuvo Unified Ancestral Domain Tribal Council of Elders/Leaders, Inc. (OMUADTCELI), and the Ancestral Domain Management Office (ADMO).

The meeting was spearheaded by Engr. Melanie M. Domingo, the Acting Center Administrator of PTC-Davao and Vocational School Administrator of TESDA–WNAS. She was joined by Mahabbok Luis A. Lambac Sr., the Chairman of OMUADTCELI and Head of ADMO, CPT. Rodel G. Villanueva from the 534 ECB PA, 1LT. Kevin Carlo Blanker, the Bravo Company Commander of the 27IB PA, Gil D. Gonzales, the Supervising TESD Specialist from RTC–KPVTC, and Engr. Sammy S. Cameros, the Supervising TESD Specialist from TESDA–WNAS.

The TESDA XI Acting Regional Director Rey M. Cueva issued Memorandum No. 03-756, series of 2023, on March 17, 2023, which convened the meeting. The directive called for the TTI Administrators of PTC–Davao, TESDA–WNAS, and RTC–KPVTC to discuss the convergence on completing the building construction of the TESDA Agro-Industrial Training Center at Sitio Ladian through skills training and assessment.

This collaborative effort aims to provide improved facilities and expand the range of skill training programs available to the Indigenous People in the area, ultimately creating new avenues for skill development and employment opportunities for the local community.

Coordination Meeting with the 534 Engineering Construction Battalion for the implementation of Skills Training at Sitio Ladian

On March 17, 2023, the Provincial Training Center Davao (PTC-Davao) convened a crucial coordination meeting to advance construction skills training programs. The meeting, spearheaded by Acting Center Administrator Engr. Melanie Domingo brought together key persons to strategize the implementation of these critical initiatives.

Present during the meeting were Niel Ven Bacalangco, and Jonathan D. Samillano from PTC-Davao, Engr. Sammy S. Cameros and Nickle S. Maleficio from TESDA-WNAS as well as a team of uniformed personnel from the 534 Engineering Construction Battalion (534 ECB) of the Philippine Army, led by CPT Rodel G. Villanueva.

The meeting centered on the completion of the Training Center at Sitio Ladian, a project that holds immense significance for the Indigenous People in the area. By providing improved facilities and expanding the range of skill training programs, the center aims to create new opportunities for skill development and employment.

This initiative aligns with TESDA's commitment to inclusive education and community development, demonstrating its dedication to reaching underserved populations and equipping them with valuable skills for improved livelihoods.

The coordination meeting laid the groundwork for a structured approach to completing the Training Center at Sitio Ladian, likely discussing timelines, resource allocation, and strategies for engaging the local community in the training programs.

This collaborative effort between TESDA and the 534 ECB Philippine Army serves as a model for future initiatives, highlighting the potential of partnerships between educational institutions and other sectors in driving community development and empowerment.

DLPC AND ABOITIZ FOUNDATION GIVE A NEW LOOK TO EIM NC II TRADE AREA

The Provincial Training Center – Davao (PTC-Davao) has recently undergone a significant enhancement of its Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) facilities, thanks to a generous contribution from Davao Light and Power Co., Inc., in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation. This substantial investment, valued at 2.4 million pesos, marks a pivotal moment in the center's ability to provide top-tier vocational training in the electrical field.

The donation encompasses a comprehensive renovation of the existing EIM facility, along with the provision of state-of-the-art tools and equipment. This upgrade is set to revolutionize the learning experience for trainees, offering them access to modern resources that align closely with industry standards.

This initiative is part of a broader vision shared by Davao Light and the Aboitiz Foundation, the social development arm of the Aboitiz Group. Their collaborative effort aims to foster the development of a skilled workforce, focusing on producing competent electricians. The ultimate goal is to ensure that PTC-Davao's EIM program graduates are thoroughly prepared for immediate employment upon successfully completing TESDA's National Certification (NC) II.

The newly renovated facility and updated equipment will enable PTC-Davao to offer more comprehensive and practical training. Trainees will now work with industry-standard tools and in an environment that closely mimics real-world scenarios. This hands-on experience is crucial in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, a key factor in producing work-ready graduates.

This generous contribution from Davao Light and the Aboitiz Foundation underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in enhancing vocational education. By investing in PTC-Davao's infrastructure and resources, these organizations are not only improving the quality of education but also directly contributing to the economic development of the region by helping to create a more skilled and competent workforce.

The impact of this upgrade extends beyond the immediate benefits to the trainees. It positions PTC-Davao as a leading institution for EIM training in the region, potentially attracting more students and industry partnerships. Furthermore, it aligns with TESDA's mission to provide high-quality technical education and skills development programs that meet the demands of an evolving job market.

As PTC-Davao integrates these new resources into its curriculum, it is expected to see an increase in the number of successful NC II certifications among its graduates. This, in turn, will lead to higher employment rates and better career prospects for those entering the electrical installation and maintenance field.

Releasing of 1st Tranche Allowance for Driving NC II

The Provincial Training Center Davao represented by Ms. Ira Monica M. Tan, RPM, Technical Staff, and Mr. Cherwyn Arthur Montemayor, Driving NC II Trainer, distributed the first tranche of the training support fund for Driving NC II qualification on February 15, 2023, at Mintal Police Station in Brgy. Mintal, Tugbok District of Davao City. 

The fifteen (15) beneficiaries received their uniform and new normal allowance under the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP).