Poorest areas to have training centers uder new law

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has signed into law a measure that will set up skills and livelihood training centers in the poorest municipalities to create employment amid the global economic downturn. Documents obtained by BusinessWorld show that Republic Act (RA) 9509, which sets up livelihood and skills training centers in fourth- to sixth-class municipalities, was signed into law by the President on Oct. 21. Augusto L. Syjuco, Jr., Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director-general, said the law will complement existing livelihood programs and provide employment opportunities to the grassroots. "The skills training and livelihood programs will be more community-based," he said in an interview on Friday. Mr. Syjuco, however, admitted that the law will not be implemented immediately as it provides TESDA and other agencies two years to draw up a program for the training centers. Marissa Legaspi, TESDA director for planning, said the law covers a wide range of areas and will require several discussions and planning. She added TESDA and local governments will meet this month to consider a fast-tracked implementation. "We can start small. It [law] does not need to be implemented at once in full blast. It could be done in phases. We will have to determine what these municipalities need. TESDA and the local government units will have to meet but the objective is to set up a training center for each municipality," she told BusinessWorld Monday. Ms. Legaspi said the meetings will also determine the amount needed for the training centers. Mr. Syjuco said the funding for setting up training centers will come from the 2009 budget. The law seeks to curb poverty through rural empowerment. It also aims to ensure the proper coordination of training activities and livelihood programs at the municipal level. Government agencies led by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) will determine the municipalities’ classification, taking into account demography, poverty incidence, income class, employment and economic development level. Mr. Syjuco said the poorest provinces include Masbate, Samar, Leyte, parts of Caraga region, and those in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Fourth-class municipalities are defined as those with average annual income of P20 million-P30 million; fifth-class, P10 million-P20 million; and sixth-class, below P10 million. The livelihood and skills training centers will provide educational and instructional activities "to enhance the knowledge, skills and attitudes of intended beneficiaries" and to prepare them for employment or entrepreneurship. Their other functions are: * conduct periodic training needs and skill mapping of villages; * gather information and maintain an inventory of all existing livelihood and skills training of the government; * draw up measures to ensure that training programs are responsive to the area’s needs; * coordinate the conduct of livelihood training activities independently or in partnership with the central government, civil society groups and the private sector; * facilitate the development of capacity-building programs and formulate curricula or training designs; and * monitor the progress of individuals undergoing training. The centers may offer training in backyard gardening, aquaculture and livestock raising, engine repair, entrepreneurial management, product design and development, among others, depending on specific needs. The law also creates a municipal advisory board that will help local governments maintain the center. It will be headed by the municipal mayor and will consist of representatives from micro, small and medium scale enterprises, rural bankers, civil society groups, and people’s organizations undertaking livelihood and skills program. Provincial officers of the departments of Interior and Local Government, Agriculture, and Trade and Industry and the TESDA will serve as ex-officio members. The Department of Interior and Local Government and TESDA will develop and implement within two years a program to implement the provisions of the law. TESDA will be required to allot 25% of its total annual appropriations for the development, evaluation and monitoring of the training activities. The training centers will submit an annual accomplishment report to the NAPC that will be forwarded to Congress.