LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—The Pangasinan Provincial Government led by Governor Ramon V. Guico III set its sight in strengthening various programs on human resource development.
In his first-ever State of the Province Address (SOPA) in the first quarter of this year, Gov. Guico expressed his belief in the “empowerment of Pangasinenses.” Thus, Employability Enhancement program (EEP) and Provincial Scholarship Program (PSP) were given utmost priority.
EEP is a training program which aims to improve the “productivity, employability, and competitiveness of Pangasinan’s labor force.”
Through the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) spearheaded by Richelle Raguindin, various programs are implemented in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and local government units (LGUs).
Said program is designed to assist out-of-school youth, unemployed adults, women from the grassroots, LGBT community, displaced workers/Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and job seekers obtain skills to earn a decent living.
EEP offers basic skills/livelihood training on sewing, nail care, wellness massage, haircutting/coloring and rebonding,
Trainees who benefited from the program are either given financial assistance of P2,000 or toolkits (depending on their choice) which they can utilize to process documentary requirements and medical certificates in their application for employment or for self-employment purposes.
Aside from this, career entrepreneurship development trainings are also conducted to equip participants with skills, knowledge and right attitude which they can apply in their workplace.
As of latest data, a total of 33 skills/livelihood development trainings and 33 career/entrepreneurship development trainings were conducted by the Pangasinan PESO, producing a total of 2,892 graduates.
PSP, on the other hand, is a continuing program of the provincial government that provides financial grant to students worth P10,000 per semester for the college education.
Said program is offered to financially challenged but deserving Pangasinense students who excel in academics (highly competent), as well as sports and the arts. Also included are selected students from cultural minorities and Muslim groups. A total of P23.90M financial grant was given to some1,195 scholars for school year 2022-2023.
The scholarship program is likewise extended to provincial scholars enrolled at the Pangasinan State University (PSU). Each scholar receives P5,000 per semester. For academic year 2022-2023, a total amount of P17.7M was granted to 1,770 scholars.
Meanwhile, the present administration is keen on improving the present educational landscape in the province by establishing the Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC), the first government-run college in the province that will offer free college education and vocational courses to qualified students.
The establishment of the PPC was formalized by virtue of Provincial Ordinance No. 300-2023 passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) last June 26.
As planned, the first campus of the PPC will be located at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) in Lingayen town.
It can be recalled that provision of accessible education for qualified residents is one of the campaign promises of Gov. Guico.
(Ruby R. Bernardino with report from Analyn T. Cervantes/Pangasinan PIO)
