Framework launched to upskill Pinoy workforce

When the nation develops its people, the people develop its nation.

This was highlighted by government agencies and the private sector during the launch and the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of the first Philippine Skills Framework (PSF) Initiative on Friday, 25 June 2021, a part of the country’s inclusive innovation strategy that targets to equip Filipino workforce with skills mastery and lifelong learning.

Seeing the need to create a framework to upskill, reskill, and prepare the country’s human capital to increase its competitiveness, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Trade Training Center – Global MSME Academy (PTTC-GMEA), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) convened nine other government agencies to forge partnership for the Philippine Skills Framework.

Among the government agencies that participated in the PSF are: Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Tourism (DOT), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

As the government recognizes the importance of a “whole-of-society” approach to realize this endeavor, they have enjoined industry associations and learning and development institutions in shaping the said framework.

The PSF builds upon the continuing partnership among national government agencies. It is a product of the memorandum of understanding that DTI and TESDA forged with SkillsFuture Singapore in 2019, during the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Singapore developed industry transformation maps that provided insights into the impact of technology and jobs, career pathways, skills required for various occupations, and reskilling options. Adopting the approach of Singapore, the Philippines is focusing on skills and developing a skills framework for specific industries as part of its Industry 4.0 strategy.

“This is indeed a momentous event as we see an MOU signed in 2019 between the Philippines, represented by the DTI and TESDA, and Singapore, represented by Skills Future Singapore, now seeing tangible results – eleven government agencies in the Philippines, coming together to forge partnership in the development of the Philippines Skills Framework for various sectors witnessed by our Singapore Institutional partners,” PTTC-GMEA Executive Director Nelly Nita N. Dillera said.