Over 500 OFWs get TESDA certification at POLO Dubai

DUBAI: A record number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) obtained their certifications for various skills upgrades with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) during a six-day onsite assessment done in batches at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Dubai from Nov.28 to Dec. 3.

“It was the highest so far in TESDA’s onsite assessment record,” Labor Attaché Felicitas Bay told The Filipino Times.

“POLO Dubai aims to capacitate Filipinos in UAE to overcome challenges, improve their skills and enhance their competencies. The onsite assessment program is government’s intervention program to upgrade the skills of overseas Filipinos.

“The onsite assessment and certification program and the strong partnership of DOLE/POLO and TESDA have reaffirmed the transformative role of government in facilitating employability, upward mobility and competitiveness of overseas Filipinos,” Bay said.

According to her, caregiving got the biggest number of certifications at 399 with a passing rate of 91.72% from the 435 who were assessed.

Tess Ramos, TESDA’s acting chief of its certification office’s Competency Assessment Division, who was in Dubai for the onsite assessment, said caregiving has always had the highest number of trainees.

“Kahit saang bansa… Singapore, Hong Kong, even sa Riyadh sa Saudi Arabia, malaki ang caregiving. The OFWs want to change their lives and have better salary,” Ramos said.

Caregiving is in demand in the United States, Europe, even New Zealand.

Meantime, electrical installation and maintenance comprised the second biggest number of trainees with 88 at 100% passing rate; massage therapy at 23 with an 85.19% passing rate from the 27 who went through the assessment; photography at 42 with a 97.67% passing rate as there were 43 OFW who originally were assessed of their skills; and one OFW who qualified to be a trainer.

In total, there were 553 OFWs who were certified from the 593 who underwent onsite assessment by TESDA.

TESDA will also conduct onsite assessment in Abu Dhabi from Dec. 5 to 8.