The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said the face-to-face training and competency assessment in the National Capital Region (NCR) have resumed.

TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña already issued a circular on Sept. 16 containing the guidelines on the pilot implementation of Alert Level System for COVID-19 response in the NCR.

In the circular, areas under Alert Level 5 or under granular lockdown shall suspend face-to-face training and assessment until Alert level 5/granular lockdown status have been lifted by the national or the local government.

Face-to-face training and assessment shall be allowed up to 50 percent capacity for Alert Level 4 to 2 while 100 percent capacity for Alert Level 1.

"Moreover, training and assessment on qualifications that require human contact like the Massage Therapy, Hilot and other Beauty Care-related shall not be allowed regardless of the Alert Level," it said.

TESDA said in areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and Modified ECQ (MECQ), face-to-face training and assessment are still suspended.

With the resumption of limited face-to-face training and competency assessment in several areas, Lapeña reminded all TESDA offices nationwide to observe the minimum public health standards to prevent the surge in cases.

He also encouraged applicants who want to avail training and undergo assessment to contact first the nearest TESDA office in their area to avoid inconvenience.

“I encourage all TESDA field offices and training institutions to strictly enforce the compliance to the public health and safety protocols and reinforcement of contact tracing systems as face-to-face training and assessment resumes,” Lapeña said.

Metro Manila was placed under a more relaxed General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with Alert Level 4 from Sept. 16 to 30.