USAID, TESDA train Tagb’s out-of-school youth

The photo shows City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II speaking during the turnover of mobile tablet devices and learning toolkit provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Opportunity 2.0 Youth Access to graduates of the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Online Programs (TOPs). The event took place on June 14, 2021. Photo by the City Media Bureau

The out-of-school youth of Tagbilaran City are getting training opportunity provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Opportunity 2.0 and the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA), according to a report by the City Media Bureau.

Tagbilaran City is one of the 12 cities chosen to implement the said program, the same report says.

On June 14, 2021, out-of-school youths numbering to 25 coming from barangays Cogon, Poblacion 2, Poblacion 3, and Tiptip were inducted into the “Youth Access to TESDA Online Programs (TOPs)”, the same report bares.

Youth Access to TOP is a TESDA-USAID Opportunity 2.0 collaboration that specifically enjoins out-of-school youth to participate in the TESDA’s distance learning platform. 

TESDA and USAID are working together to ensure youth’s access to much needed training so that they can overcome economic difficulties.

This collaboration also engages Local Government Units (LGUs), Youth Development Alliances (YDAs) as well as other public and private sector partners to secure work immersions and skills training for the youth.

The project is able to engage community-based facilitators who will  provide technical support if learners face any issue along the way, the report adds.

The program lends to the learners some computer tablets and copies of modules to support the distance learning process, the report states.

“This project provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to Tagbilaran City’s out-of-school youth. We really encourage them to give it their best shot. These learning sessions would truly capacitate and empower them to land on opportunities which could help them improve their lives and that of their family,” underscored Mayor John Geesnell Yap II.

“The TESDA Online Program is a valuable tool especially during a pandemic as this allows our youth to build their skills and competencies in the safety of their own homes. A lot of young people have become disenfranchised since the start of the pandemic, but we are glad to be working with the LGU, YDA, and Opportunity 2.0, in building a more inclusive environment for them,” says TESDA Bohol Acting Provincial Director Winefredo Salas. 

“We are happy to be able to reach out especially to the disadvantaged youth here in our community with USAID’s support, “he adds.

Under Youth Access to TOPs, learners will undergo a three-month training using the Work Readiness Modules developed through USAID Opportunity 2.0 and US-based Education Development Center. Topics, the report reveals.

USAID Opportunity 2.0 is a five-year initiative geared to improve the learning and earning outcomes of out-of-school youths (OSYs) by working with key stakeholders from government, industry and the academe, this five-year program worth P1.9 billion, will work with the Department of Education (DepEd), the TESDA, and local government units to support their  respective programs to provide relevant education, employability skills, and work experience to 180,000 out-of-school youth across the Philippines, including Tagbilaran City.

Baba expresses thanks to Guv, DOH for more vaccine doses

This file photo  shows the vaccine rollout conducted last May 2021, where City Health Officer Dr. Jeia Pondoc  (right) is shown administering the jab to Office of the Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA) Head Evelyn Leyble (right). Contributed photo

City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II thanked Gov. Arthur Yap and Department of Health (DOH) Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas for the additional anti-Coronavirus disease (Covid) vaccines allocated to Tagbilaran City, which will be administered to senior citizens, according to a report from the City Media Bureau.

With these additional doses, vaccinations for the senior citizens are rolled out anew. 

The vaccination centers are open to serve senior citizens who want to be inoculated on June 20 and 21, 2021. 

The vaccination centers are located in Bool Elementary School, Tagbilaran City Central School, Dao Elementary School, Booy Covered Court, and Tagbilaran City College, the same report says.

The vaccination centers are open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 pm. 

Walk-ins are accepted, while priority lanes are put in place for those who registered online. Free transport is also provided for senior citizens going to and from the vaccination centers, the report bares.