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ADB, TESDA, DTI-PTTC GMEA to launch SkillsUpNet Philippines Phase 2  

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To address workforce challenges through employer-led skills development in high-growth industries, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry’s Philippine Trade Training Center–Global MSME Academy (DTI-PTTC GMEA), will launch SkillsUpNet Philippines Phase 2 (SUN PH 2) on Feb. 4, 2025, at the ADB office in Ortigas.  

The initiative aims to ensure that workforce training aligns with industry demands, equipping Filipino workers with skills that drive economic growth and business competitiveness.  

Building on the success of the first phase (June 2021 to December 2023), which provided 15.4 million pesos in grants to five employer networks and trained 671 workers — including 319 women — SUN PH 2 seeks to expand its impact by targeting additional sectors and regions critical to economic development. Inspired by the program’s initial success, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) initiated supplementary training programs, benefiting 858 more workers, including 604 women.  

For its second phase, SkillsUpNet Philippines will focus on six key sectors, strategically aligned with priority regions to spur economic growth and job creation.  

Creative industry (animation): National Capital Region (NCR), CALABARZON (Region IV-A), and Central Visayas (Region VII), leveraging the presence of creative hubs and animation studios.  

Agribusiness (coffee and bamboo): NCR, Ilocos Region (Region I), Davao Region (Region XI), and SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII), where agricultural supply chains are well-established.  

Renewable energy (energy, electric vehicles, advanced metering infrastructure, and solar energy): NCR, CALABARZON, and Central Visayas, which show strong potential for clean energy adoption.  

Logistics and supply chain: NCR, Ilocos Region, Western Visayas (Region VI), and Davao Region, enhancing connectivity and trade efficiency.  

IT-business process management (IT-BPM): NCR, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and SOCCSKSARGEN, where IT ecosystems and talent pools are expanding.  

Construction (including engineering services and the built environment): NCR, Ilocos Region, CALABARZON, and Central Visayas, supporting infrastructure development.  

Tourism: NCR, Ilocos Region, CALABARZON, Western Visayas, and Davao Region, where tourism is a key economic driver.  

A core component of SUN PH 2 is the mobilization of Industry Boards to unite enterprises into employer networks, ensuring training programs align with industry needs. These boards will identify skill gaps, set training priorities, encourage participation, facilitate employer networks for grant applications, and support the sustainability of training initiatives.  

The program will award competitive grants ranging from USD 20,000 to USD 80,000 to employer networks for short-term skills training initiatives. To qualify, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) must form a network of at least 10 enterprises within the same sector and region. Each network must formalize its collaboration through a memorandum of understanding (MOU), designating a lead enterprise to submit the grant application and manage training activities.  

A highlight of the event will be the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) among ADB, TESDA, and DTI-PTTC GMEA, reinforcing their commitment to workforce development through SUN PH 2. This agreement underscores a collaborative effort to equip Filipino workers with industry-relevant skills and enhance MSME productivity.  

MSMEs interested in joining SUN PH 2 can register as part of an employer network and apply for training grants. Applications will be evaluated based on their potential to address workforce needs and improve productivity. — DTI

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