GAIN, PALSCON agree to level up English proficiency of service workers
The Government Academe Industry Network (GAIN) and the Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors (PALSCON) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote English proficiency skills particularly to the service contracting industry.
With the MOU signed on December 14, 2021, both parties agreed to collaborate on the adoption of the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) and to support the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) initiative on the National Roadmap for Global Competitiveness in Communication Skills (NRGCCS) that will enable not just the graduates to be industry-ready, but also the current workforce to be equipped with globally competitive communication skills.
For the past four years, GAIN has promoted the adoption of international standards for communication and digital skills of the Philippine graduates and workforce through its national conferences and collaboration with various sectors to gather a stronger collective voice in pushing for legislation.
A day after the MoU was sealed, GAIN Director Rex Wallen Tan graced PALSCONnect, a virtual event entitled “Buzz, Biz, and Beyond” spearheaded by the PALSCON Training Academy. In his segment, Tan addressed more than 2,000 viewers, emphasizing the importance of setting national targets in English proficiency skills by using the CEFR as the international benchmark used by universities and industries around the world.
Tan likewise enthusiastically shared the upcoming launch of the English for Tagalog speakers course in Google’s Duolingo, the most popular language mobile application with more than 10 million users. GAIN has been taking the lead in developing the Duolingo CEFR-based course that will be made accessible for free to Filipinos with a mobile phone who want to improve their English-speaking skills
Representing GAIN for the virtual signing were its Chairman Dr. Peter Laurel, President Monette Iturralde-Hamlin, Vice President for Industry Linkages Grace Abella-Zata, Secretary Dr. Jocelyn Tizon, and Executive Director Dr. Genevieve Ledesma-Tan.
Representing PALSCON for the virtual signing were its President Rhoda Caliwara, Secretary General Alexander Chichioco, PRO Froilan Florendo, Treasurer Agnes Escalona, Director Lea Soriano, Director Aya Barsaga, Past President Debbie Centeno, Past President and ECOP Director Butch Guerrero, Corporate Secretary and Head Coach of PALSCON Academy Jay Ar Sta. Ana VII, Director and Region 4A Chapter President Wowie Dictado, Director and Cebu Chapter President Grace Iligan, and Executive Secretary Paula Narciso.
PALSCON is an association of legitimate local service contractors that aims to professionalize the service contracting industry in the country to realize its aspiration of a sustained and genuine economic progress that is felt and enjoyed by the entire Filipino citizenry.