Lapeña eases up portfolio assessment requirements for outbound OFWs

TAGUIG CITY – Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are about to be deployed abroad will now go through an easier process of portfolio assessment.

It was after Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Isidro Lapeña issued TESDA Circular 111 effective starting Tuesday, September 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

The TESDA circular states that from five years’ work experience, OFWs are now qualified on eligibility requirements even with at least two years of work experience.

OFWs who do not have a Certificate of Employment can submit OFW Information Sheet issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) or Certification from the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices instead.

This is part of the agency’s concern for some OFWs who find it hard to request for their Certificate of Employment because of their inconsiderate employers.

Lapeña explained that this is part of the agency’s program, “TESDA Abot Lahat ang OFWs”.

“We want the OFWs to feel that we are one with them. Their eagerness to work so they can provide for their families, in the fastest way possible, is also TESDA’s goal for them,” he said.

The TESDA circular added that videos and pictures showing actual practice of the qualification, which are not often allowed in the residences of the employers, may be substituted by videos demonstrating the tasks in the residence or other location with the same environment as required by the units of competency.

This shall be supplemented by interview by the Panel of Portfolio Assessors to ascertain the competence of the candidates.

Other requirements shall be submitted as indicated in the Operating Procedure for Portfolio Assessment.

Applications should be submitted to the TESDA Certification Office through its email address, portfolio.assessment@tesda.gov.ph.