AMIDST the COVID-19 pandemic and its detrimental effects, Navoteños still have something to be thankful for after the city government has been recognized for its accessible and quality technical vocational education and skills training.
Mayor Toby Tiangco said Navotas was one of the only two local government units in the National Capital Region that were given the distinction after the Navotas Vocational Training and Assessment (NAVOTAAS) Institute received the Regional Kabalikat Award from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and was chosen to represent the region in the national category.
“We are thankful and honored to have received this award. It validated our efforts to provide our citizens with opportunities for sustainable employment and livelihood,” Mayor Tiangco said.
“We hope this will further inspire the employees, board members and other stakeholders of the NAVOTAAS Institute to continue their noble mission of helping uplift the lives of Navoteños,” he added.
Navotas was selected based on its progressive and sustainable initiatives that resulted in additional tech-voc courses and increasing number of graduates every year.
TESDA noted that in between 2017 to 2019, the NAVOTAAS Institute was able to register 15 additional training and assessment qualification programs. It now has 32 tech-voc courses offered for free for all Navoteños.
In a span of three years, the Institute was able to produce around 2,100 graduates, all of whom were assessed and able to acquire their National Certificate for free.
TESDA also commended the Institute for further helping their trainees succeed in their field by conducting various employability skills training, job fairs, job referrals and entrepreneurship seminars
Of those who graduated, around 1,050 or 50% were hired and given employment through their assistance.
Last June, the city government and TESDA signed a memorandum of agreement that established the TESDA – NAVOTAAS Training Institute, providing new tech-voc courses that are timely and suitable for the transition to the new normal.
