Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 3) — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) stands ready to assist Filipinos repatriated from Israel to find new jobs in other countries if the conflict in the Middle East nation would continue.
In an interview with CNN Philippines on Friday, TESDA Deputy Director General Aniceto Bertiz assured repatriated overseas Filipino workers from Israel that they can also avail of the agency’s skills training and development programs for free.
“Kapag naka-settle na sila dito at may kaguluhan pa rin sa Israel, pwede natin silang matulungan or mai-connect sa partner countries ng TESDA tulad ng Europe, Korea, New Zealand,” he told Newsroom Ngayon.
[Translation: If they have already settled here and there is still conflict in Israel, we can help or connect them to our partner countries like in Europe, South Korea, New Zealand.]
Bertiz said Filipino returnees and their beneficiaries are given certificates of scholarship grant commitment to get the free skills training.
He said some of them have already registered for the scholarship program while others enrolled in the TESDA Online Program, which offers around 150 courses including bread and pastry making, ITC program, and language training.
So far, the Philippine government has flown 123 Filipinos back home from Israel as the Middle East country battles with the militant group Hamas.
Among those who returned to the country were learners under the Philippine-Israel internship program studying agriculture, Bertiz said.
The Philippines is also seeking to repatriate more Filipinos from Gaza, as well as Lebanon. Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon have been trading fire with Israeli forces across the two countries’ border since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
