Image Edited by Soundspider Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas has called on students, parents and jobseekers to grab the training and job opportunities offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Vargas made the call as he joined the nation in celebrating the National Technical-Vocational Day which is mandated by a law signed early this year by President Rodrigo Duterte.

As a principal author of the said law, Vargas expressed elation over giving importance to this important measure, which will bridge the gap between the skills of the Filipino workforce and the jobs available in the country.

Duterte signed into law last February the Republic Act 10970 or an Act Declaring the 25th of August of every year as National Technical-Vocational Day. Wednesday was the first time the country commemorated the occasion.

In the House, Vargas filed House Bill 5352 which colleagues supported. Other authors include Cibac Rep. Sherwin Tugna, Davao Oriental Rep. Joel Mayo Almario and Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Ann Hofer.

For this year, the TESDA will be holding job fairs on 25 August and will be providing financial assistance to the graduates/alumni of the agency in all 17 regions nationwide.

Majority of the jobs that will be offered will be coming from the construction industry, as part of the Build, Build, Build program.

“Let us support the TESDA, so that it will be more successful in harnessing technical-vocational for developing and facilitating inclusive growth,” Vargas said.

Likewise, Vargas underscored the need to support the Build, Build, Build program of the Duterte administration.

“I believe this program can help develop human resources, create jobs and reduce poverty,” the solon stressed.

Vargas is happy to share that in his district, there are hundreds of TESDA graduates every year in the field of welding, baking and pastry, make-up and beauty care, automotive servicing, housekeeping, bartending and commercial cooking.

“We in the District 5 will remain partners of TESDA as we believe that tech-voc prepares students for employment and provides specific skills training to upgrade new competencies to enhance their chances for employment and improve their productivity,” Vargas said.

Meanwhile, TESDA Director General, Secretary Guiling “Gene” Mamondiong said that the jobs fair dubbed “World Café of Opportunities through Jobs Linkages and Networking Services” is one of the strategies to link the technical vocational education and training graduates/alumni to employment opportunities.