With the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said it has increased the number of slots for training programs related to health.
TESDA Deputy Director-General for Operations Lina Sarmiento said this is in support of the efforts of the government especially the Department of Health (DOH).
"We have increased the number of slots for courses or training programs like barangay health services, contact tracing, emergency medical services and other health related programs," she said during the Pre-SONA forum Wednesday, July 14.
But, Sarmiento said, their priority programs are agriculture and construction.
"For this year, especially during the pandemic, TESDA prioritized agriculture and construction," she said.
"Agriculture because this is in support of food security. We have to really teach our kababayans how to grow their own food so that the food security in the country will really be supported," added Sarmiento.
She said construction is also a priority because of the "Build, Build, Build" program of the administration.
TESDA earlier said that under leadership of Secretary Isidro Lapeña, the agency has listed agriculture as among its priority sectors with 30 percent of its scholarship budget allocated for skills training on agriculture and other agri-related courses.