MANILA – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed to further funding the SkillsUpNet Philippines (SUN PH) program, following the successful completion of its first phase. The agreement for the second phase, SUN PH 2, was formalized at the ADB headquarters by ADB Country Director Pavit Ramachandran, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Jose Francisco Benitez.
The new phase of the program will focus on enhancing the skills of Filipino workers across several strategic sectors and regions. The first phase, which ran from June 2021 to December 2023, disbursed PHP15.4 million to five employer networks and trained 671 workers, with a significant portion being women.
SUN PH 2 aims to train 858 workers, with a majority, 604, being female. The training will cover sectors such as the creative industry, focusing on animation; agriculture, with emphasis on coffee and bamboo; renewable energy, including electric vehicles, automated meter reading, and solar energy; logistics and supply chain; information technology and business process management (ITBPM); construction, with a focus on engineering services and the built environment; and tourism.
The training programs will be strategically distributed across various regions. For the creative industry, training will be provided in the National Capital Region (NCR), Calabarzon, and Central Visayas. Coffee and bamboo training will target NCR, Ilocos Region, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen. Renewable energy training will be conducted in NCR, Calabarzon, and Central Visayas. Logistics and supply chain training will be available in NCR, Ilocos Region, Western Visayas, and Davao Region. ITBPM training will be offered in Metro Manila, Western and Central Visayas, and Soccsksargen. Construction training will be provided in NCR, Ilocos Region, Calabarzon, and Central Visayas, while tourism training will focus on Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, and Davao Region.
Secretary Roque emphasized the importance of the program, stating, “Every time I talk to foreign investors, they always ask, they always tell me, ‘we need talent’. So, this program is really something that we need today.” She expressed confidence that SUN PH 2 would have a greater impact, equipping Filipino workers with the necessary skills to excel in the future.