DAVAO CITY—Jobless out-of-school youth were sent to six-month job and internship training by the city government of Tagum, the capital of Davao del Norte, to pilot test a national employment training program for school dropouts.
Tagum City, 53 kilometers north of here, started the program early this week with a three-day screening process for JobStart Philippines, an initiative of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
JobStart Philippines is seeking a total of 120 Tagum City residents aged 18 to 24 years old to undergo the 10 days of life skills training, three months of JobStart-funded technical training and another three months of internship with a partner business establishment.
The program would proceed as scheduled following the participation to the program of 14 businesses, which signed an agreement with the Tagum City government and the DOLE.
Mayor Allan Rellon disclosed his plan to adapt a locally funded program similar to JobStart, to focus on employing the out-ofschool youth, aside from the regular city-government scholarship and employment programs.
Rogeneth P. Llanos, manager of the city’s Public Employment Service Office, said the unemployed residents in the city already beyond the age bracket for the JobStart Philippine program may still submit their resume at the three-day screening process “and they would be accommodated by several participating business establishments, but will not be enlisted under JobStart Philippines.” Companies that signified support to the program are Hijo Resources Corp., McDonalds, LYR Marketing and Furniture Center, Nadela Business Center, Garden Dreanca, Mabuhay Emission, Black Fighter Security Agency, Toyota, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Skycable, Tagum Doctors Hospital, Big 8 Corporate Hotel, Asia Brewery and Perfect Milling Corp., the city information office said.
It said that aside from the life skills training, “those who will qualify in the program is entitled to a stipend to at least 75 percent of the minimum wage during the three months of internship, and guaranteed full-time employment after the program once their performance is deemed excellent by their respective employers.”
The program is funded by the Canadian government through the Asian Development Bank.
The next round of screening would be held on September when another batch of 120 job starters would be selected, Llanos said.