By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino partylist Rep. Manuel Cabochan III has sought the establishment of job placement offices (JPOs) or “Trabaho Centers" in public high schools and state universities and colleges to provide career services to the youth.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
He said the government should prepare the youth in choosing the career tracks that they intend to pursue, citing that it is the state’s responsibility to afford full protection to the youth entering the labor force.
“The promise of employment after high school is perhaps the most enticing part in the K to 12 program. As young adults, graduates who have chosen technical-vocational tracks are expected to acquire the necessary skills to join the workforce. However, there is no arrangement or structure currently available to ensure that Senior High School graduates will be able to find employment,” he said.
Cabochan filed House Bill No. 5747 or the proposed Trabaho Center in Schools Act” to fill such gap.
“This bill seeks to establish a job placement office or Trabaho Centers in public high schools and SUCs to ensure that there are suitable jobs waiting for our graduates. The establishment of Trabaho Centers nationwide will empower our graduates to contribute in our country’s growth and development,” he said.
HB 5747 provides that Trabaho Centers shall work in coordination with the Provincial, City, or Municipal Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) and shall be supervised by Trabaho Center Coordinators in Department of Education (DepEd) Division Offices.
“Schools shall explore new and innovative systems to carry out the provisions of this Act, including partnering with the private sector or NGO (non-government organization) for an online platform,” the bill provides.
Under the bill, Trabaho Centers shall be responsible for preparing the youth in choosing career tracks fit for their talents, skills and preferences and in matching these to the needs of the current and future labor market.
All Trabaho Centers shall have at least one career advocate who would keep an up-to-date database of job vacancies from employers to facilitate the exchange of labor market information between young job seekers and employers, the bill provides.
HB 5747 encourages the higher education institutions (HEIs) and technical vocational institutions (TVIs) to establish Trabaho Centers in their schools to prepare their students in choosing career tracks fit for their talents, skills and preferences and in matching these to the needs of the current and future labor market, in accordance with the provisions of the proposed Act.
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA), in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), is tasked, under the bill, to ensure the proper and adequate information dissemination of the contents and benefits of the proposed Act.
The amount necessary to implement the provisions of the proposed Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the DepEd. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
The Deped shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations of the proposed Act, within 90 days from its effectivity, the bill said. (Charissa M. Luci-Atienza) ###