THE DAVAO Information and Communication Technology (ICT) targets to double the industry workforce in the region to 150,000 by 2028.
During Habi at Kape at Abreeza on Aug. 16, Belinda Torres, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCI) and Informations and Communication Technology (ICT) executive vice president, said the current workforce in ICT is around 75,000.
“To be able to do that (double), we have to ensure that we have the right people in terms of talent development. We have to train our trainers for them to achieve a certain level of competency,” Torres said.
Torres stressed they are working with line agencies to conduct training and produce people with the right skills to boost the industry.
Torres said the Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (Tesda) XI is one of the agencies helping out through its Tulong Trabaho Scholarship Program (TTSP), which provides innovative approaches to address unemployment.
Torres recognized Tesda’s help in funding the training workshops since they can be costly.
Last year, the agency allocated P7 million, generating an 85% employment rate (85 out of 100 trainees were employed) which is a great help for the industry.
To meet this goal in five years, ICT Davao divided its targets into four programs: 3,000 developers, 200 creatives, 9000 customer service specialists, and 1000 freelancers.
Torres emphasized it is not only limited to professionals and college graduates, even senior high graduates can be eligible provided that they are entitled to micro-credentials.
“In senior high school, if they achieve a certain level of specialization, then that is, of course, a yes… but we have to make sure that they’re good at it, they are certified,” Torres said.
Torres is also seeking the help of the education sector to focus on education essentials for skills alignment.
“That is one thing that we need to have a look into because, at the end of the day, ICT basically is comprehension and communication,” Torres said.
Aside from Tesda, ICT Davao also partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and homegrown companies such as Ingenuity Ph, EXE Tech, Jobs Solutions, Zig-works, and Vital Strategies.
