The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is looking to integrate digital skills training in its joint livelihood assistance program with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
"We are steering our workforce towards high-value tasks that enable them to climb the ladder of value creation. This is especially crucial in the field of digital technology, which does not require extensive machinery but focuses on intellectual and creative skills," said DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual.
Called the Enterprise Development and Livelihood Assistance, the initiative was established through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed in May last year. The MOA will take effect until 2026, according to the DTI.
Through the MOA, the agencies will jointly provide training and technical assistance, financial and livelihood assistance, business advisory services, shared service facilities, as well as marketing and distribution services.
Overall, the program aims to promote jobs and growth among the country's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), in fulfillment of the national government's targets under the "Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act".
In line with this, Pascual said the agency is also planning to transform Negosyo Centers into digital learning hubs to support digital literacy among Filipinos.
"By advancing the digital skills of Filipino workers, we are not only enhancing their capabilities but also ensuring they contribute significantly to our nation's economic growth," he added.
Key officials who attended the session with Pascual on April 26 were DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Director Khalid Hassan, and DTI Undersecretary for International Trade Policy Group Allan Gepty.