Pact promoting PPP signed in Agusan del Norte

By Robert E. Roperos

Monday 18th of June 2012

BUTUAN CITY, June 18 (PIA) -- Government agencies composed of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte, and Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has signed a memorandum of agreement with EMCO Plywood Corporation and Equi-Parco Construction, Inc. in support to the public-private partnership (PPP) of the national government.

The ceremonies, held recently at the covered court of the Agusan del Norte Provincial Capitol here, is one of the highlights of the 45th celebration of the Province of Agusan del Norte, in an effort to provide employment to skilled workers in the province.

This developed after it was observed that unemployment and underemployment continue to be the perennial problems of Caraga Region and that these problems are attributed to many factors, among which are hard to fill positions due to lack of required skills among the labor supply and job mismatch between available jobs with jobseekers.

Under the memorandum of agreement, the national government is committed to the organization, development, and maximum utilization of the country’s manpower resources.

It was also stipulated in the agreement that the labor department should provide technical assistance and allied support services to the local government units in the recruitment and placement operations. They are also tasked to register jobseekers to the Phil-Jobnet System and classify them (jobseekers) according to occupation, skills, education, and personal characteristics for local placement.

The DOLE will also obtain and gather employment data from employers to facilitate job placement and posting to the Phil-Jobnet System, as well as to ensure that the training will start as scheduled where the trainees must complete 40 hours training, and extend other employment facilitation assistance such as career counseling and labor market information to all parties concerned.

The LGU should also provide adequate funding to all employment promotion initiatives more specifically in the conduct of skills training for industrial electrician and auto diesel mechanic. They will also allocate budget during the whole duration of the training. These include honorarium of the trainer, meals and accommodation for the entire duration of the training, supplies and materials for training handouts, and other logistics.

The local government should also establish linkages with private companies, in the attainment of the objectives; provide DOLE-Caraga Regional Officer with copies of its data updates, documents, and reports; ensure that the training will start as scheduled as well as the completion of the 40 hours training; and extend other assistance deemed necessary.

For the part of TESDA, the agency must partner with DOLE in the implementation of the Employment Facilitation Programs thru its provincial office in Agusan del Norte. They must also assess and recommend training needs of the jobseekers based on the defined competency standards, as well as to identify trainers to conducts skills training in the workplace.

The agency is also responsible in facilitating the conduct for the skills training of industrial electrician (20 slots) and auto diesel mechanic (15 slots). After the completion of 40 hours training, TESDA must issue a certificate of competency to its graduates and extend other assistance deemed necessary.

For the private establishments (EMCO and Equi-Parco), they must serve as partners in the generation of employment. They must also provide Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Agusan del Norte adequate information such as bio-data of the identified participants for screening.

Also, the establishments should partner with LGU in the screening and identification of applicants for the required skills trainings; allow the use of their equipment in the conduct of skills training; ensure that the training will start as scheduled as well as the completion of the 40 hours training; assure regular/immediate employment of the trainees to their company; and extend other assistance deemed necessary.

Signatories of the agreement are DOLE-Caraga Regional Director Ofelia Domingo, Agusan del Norte Governor Erlpe John Amante, TESDA-Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Dr. Florencio Sunico Jr., EMCO Plywood Corporation General Manager Mr. Chin Fook Sinn, and Equi-Parco Construction Inc. General Manager Mr. Jose “Otik” Gorme. (RER/PIA 13-Caraga)