LGU-Bulan Hosts CTEC July Meeting

The local government of Bulan, Sorsogon hosted the regular meeting of the Association of Sorsogon CTECs on July 20, 2007.

The association discussed details of their planned industry tour to Subic, training reports for July, plan for identifying competencies that must be possessed by Sorsogon CTECs and other matters including PGMA-TWSP and status of establishment of Municipal TESD Committees in localities that do not yet have one.

The Association and TESDA Sorsogon Provincial Office appreciates much the warm welcome and hospitality of Bulan Mayor Hon. Helen Cheng de Castro, Ms. Anilin Diaz, Bulan's CTEC; and all other officials and personnel of the municipality. We also appreciate Mayor de Castro's presence and inputs during the meeting.

ASCTECs to Identify CTEC Competencies as Input to TESDA Capability Build-Up

To provide a guide for the TESDA Provincial Office in determining what capability build-up inputs to embed during regular meetings for the rest of 2007 and 2008, the Association of Sorsogon CTECs are planning to identify specific competencies that must be possessed by every Sorsogon CTEC.

This is what was agreed upon during the Association's regular meeting held in Bulan Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall on July 20, 2007.

The bases for the competencies will include the list of CTEC qualifications identified during the Bicol CTEC Congress held in 2003, the actual tasks performed by CTECs as training managers and action officers of their Municipal TESD Committees and the targets set under their respective Municipal Skills Priorities and the Provincial Technical Education and Skills Development Plan 2005-2009.

Because the CTECs are also preparing for their industry tour to Subic tentatively scheduled on August 8-14, 2007, the identification of competencies will be made right after the tour.

Aside from planning to identify CTEC competencies, the Association also discussed details of the industry tour, PGMA-TWSP, the training outputs and reports during the meeting.

Bulan Mayor Helen Cheng de Castro, who sat down during the meeting, noted that the PGMA-TWSP is a very useful program that can help low-income and unemployed adults in all LGUs improve their income.

She suggested to CTECs that mayors of their host LGU in their coming meetings also sit down with them so as to know more firsthand about how their local governments can also take advantage of TESDA programs.

PTESDC Assesses TVET Sector 1st Sem Performance

The Provincial Technical Education and Skills Development Committee (PTESDC) of Sorsogon assessed the performance of the technical-vocational education and training (TVET) sector for the First Semester of 2007 during its second quarter regular meeting held on June 27, 2007 at Mango Grill Restaurant, Sorsogon City.

Among the areas looked into were massive training, competency assessment and certification, ladderized education program and course registration and re-registration.

According to the report of the TESDA Sorsogon Provincial Office, 4,633 persons were enrolled while 4,076 graduated in all modes of TVET delivery as of June 2007. These figures include those enrolled and graduates in regular school-based programs (661 enrolled, 264 graduates), extension (37 enrolled, 37 graduates), short-term courses (37 enrolled, 37 graduates), community-based training programs (3898 enrolled, 3,738 graduates), and dualized training programs. Those enrolled and graduates in dualized training programs (256 enrolled, 140 graduates) were students of regular programs of the two TESDA training institutions, Bulusan National Vocational Technical School and Sorsogon National Agricultural School.

Meanwhile, 1,044 were assessed and 544 were certified. This makes certification rate of 52 percent for the Province.

Twenty-four program registration applications were acted upon and 45 courses were migrated to the new training regulations during the period.

Engr. Roan P. Espinas, Vocational School Administrator of Bulusan National Vocational Technical School, and Ms. Anita B. de Guzman, Vocational School Administrator of Sorsogon National Agricultural School, likewise presented their institutions' accomplishments during the period.

LGU-Juban Hosts June ASCTECs Meeting

The local government unit of Juban hosted the June 2007 regular meeting of the Association of CTECs (ASCTECs) held on June 15, 2007 at the Mayor's Office.

Among the agenda discussed were how the LGUs can make the most out of the PGMA-TWSP, how the CTECs can ensure timely submission of training reports, and other matters.

The members and officials of ASCTECs and the TESDA-Sorsogon family would like to thank Hon. Mayor Ma. Teresa Guab-Fragata, Ms. Lizpeth Nicolas, the CTEC; and all other personnel and officials of LGU-Juban for the hospitality and warm welcome.

CTECs Plan Benchmarking-Networking Tour to Subic

To make sure that there are ready employers for their local government unit's scholars under the Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Training for Work Scholarship Program (PGMA-TWSP), the officials and members of the Association of Sorsogon Community Training and Employment Coordinators (ASCTECs) are planning to go to Subic and personally talk with officials of companies there regarding their specific requirements for workers in various qualifications.

This is what the ASCTECs have agreed upon during their regular monthly meeting in Juban, Sorsogon last June 15, 2007.

According to Miss Rowena E. Fajardo, ASCTECs President, this is very important in bridging the gap between what their LGU scholars under PGMA-TWSP will learn and what their prospective employers will actually require.

The inputs of the industry partners that the ASCTECs will talk with will be integrated in the curriculum that will be used to train the scholars.

The tour is tentatively scheduled this August, before the actual trainings for the scholars are conducted starting September 2007.

23 TTI Officials, Faculty, Personnel Trained on Local Area Network Use

To assist Bulusan National Vocational Technical School and Sorsogon National Agricultural School, both TESDA technology institutions in Sorsogon, make the most out of their local area networks, the TESDA Sorsogon Provincial Office conducted a training workshop for 23 institution officials, faculty and personnel on June 11-15, 2007 at Bulusan National Vocational Technical School.

The training covered topics such as maintaining a computer unit connected to a local area network (LAN), installing and configuring a LAN chatting and file sharing /transfer application, sharing, transferring and exchanging files, sending short messages, maintaining file security, reviewing documents electronically; and installing,configuring and running an anti-virus.

Mr. Manny P. Azusano, TESDA Sorsogon information systems focal; Mr. Dante T. Desuyo, TESDA Sorsogon information hardware assets and networking focal; and Miss Salvacion B. Bonganay, San Francisco Institute of Science and Technology Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) focal, facilitated the training.

Miss Elizabeth L. Bornas, Supervising TESD Specialist of TESDA Sorsogon, refreshed the participants before the start of the training-workshop proper on the rationale of the activity and explained its relationship to other programs of the institutions such as preparation of competency-based learning materials, researches, project proposals and even their regular staff/administrative meetings.

Thirteen officials, personnel and faculty members from Bulusan National Vocational Technical School (BNVTS) and 10 from Sorsogon National Agricultural School (SNAS) attended the training.

The participants from BNVTS included Engr. Roan P. Espinas (Vocational School Administrator), Ms. Gina F. Aguilar, Mr. Gerardo E. Aguilar, Ms. Jenelyn L. Dino, Ms. Melinda Fulo, Mr. Ricardo F. Galve, Ms. Marivic Jeresano, Ms. Merceditas P. Gob, Ms. Clarissa F. Javier, Mr. Liberato F. Esteves, Ms. Lorna Manacob, Ms. Nenita R. Rafallo, and Mr. Gregorio Tagalicud.

On the other hand, the following were the participants from SNAS: Mrs. Anita B. de Guzman (Vocational School Administrator), Mr. Alexander L. Castuera, Mr. Ricardo B. Detecio, Ms. Julieta Galay, Mr. Conrado Lopez Jr., Mr. Reynan L. Malate, Mr. Roberto C. Mendoza, Ms. Elena J. Molenilla, Mr. Jason John Romero, and Ms. Rosalinda Verano.

26 Trainers Pass Technology Assessment

Twenty-six technical-vocational education and training (TVET) trainers passed the technology assessment conducted by the TESDA Sorsogon Provincial Office last February 19, 2007 at Computer Communications Development Institute and AMA Computer Learning Center, both in Sorsogon City.

Of the 26, 21 passed in Personal Computer (PC) Operations while one passed in PC Hardware Servicing.

Those who passed in PC Operations are: Alfred B. Amparado Jr., Perry M. Auxillos, Christopher G. Benasa, Maridi E. Detera, Crisanta J. Dionglay, Joel J. Gerona, Angela D. Golis, Milagros J. Laciste, Elvin Manuel R. Luces, Leah Santa C. Manrique, Ma. Chona A. Mapula, Genevieve P. Marcelo, Judith D. Mostar, Gina R. Olea, Aries S. Ordoñez, Arlie A. Pareñas, Amy N. Perillo, Michael G. Rivera, Josefina R. Sarmiento, Christian Y. Sy, Vener D. and Villanueva Jr.

Ariel Y. Ramirez passed in PC Hardware Servicing.

The technology assessment in PC Operations included the four core competencies including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and the use of e-mail and internet. Meanwhile, the assessment in PC Hardware Servicing included installation of computer systems and networks, diagnosis and troubleshooting of computer systems, configuring computer systems and networks, and maintaining computer systems and networks.

The technology assessment is part of the process for qualifying TVET trainers in Sorsogon to teach TVET competency-based courses under the new training regulations.

TESDA Sorsogon Certifies 507 TVET Graduates and Workers in 2006

Five hundred seven TVET graduates and technical-vocational workers were issued Certificates of Competency out of the 1,159 assessed by TESDA Sorsogon Provincial Office in 2006.

Of those certified, 126 were certified as Automotive Mechanics (LD-NC I), 117 as Building Wiring Electricians, 112 as Bakers, 44 as Consumer Electronic Mechanics (NC I), 28 as Shielded Metal Arc Welders, 24 as Dressmakers and 22 as Data Encoders. Aside from them, 34 were certified in various other occupations.

The certification rate of workers assessed was 43.74 percent.

TVET Sector Trains 12,000 in 2006

The TVET sector of Sorsogon trained 12,107 students, trainees and partners in 2006, according to the 2006 Annual Accomplishment Report released by the TESDA Sorsogon Provincial Office recently. Of this, 1,190 were trained in formal courses, 619 in Extension and 1,265 in short-term programs offered by technical-vocational institutions.

Meanwhile, various non-school based trainings including those conducted by local government units, non-government organizations, other government agencies with training activities, firms and cooperatives trained 9,033 persons. Non-school based trainings included community-based training for enterprise development (CBTED) (1,113 persons), community-based training programs (CBTP) (7,786), enterprise-based trainings (including Kasanayan sa Hanapbuhay program) (39) and TVET sector capability build-up training program (95).

School-based trainings focused on medium-term and long-term middle-level manpower needs of industries within the Province and other areas (such as Information Technology, Construction, Transport, Storage and Communication; and Health and Social Work sectors) while non-school based trainings concentrated more on the short-term and immediate manpower needs of local industries (including Agriculture, Hunting and Forestry; small-scale Manufacturing; Real Estate, Renting and Business Activities; Construction and Information and Communications Technology).

Total reported investments and commitments infused by all TVET stakeholders and providers was P2,429,709.