US-ABC Companies Present Upskilling Programs Targeting more than 100k Filipinos
(Manila, Philippines) – The US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) has presented to the Philippine government a report outlining the training and upskilling initiatives undertaken by its member companies. These initiatives, designed to significantly enhance the skills and employability of Filipinos, target more than 100,000 members of the workforce, students, and other societal groups, and cover a wide range of fields such as cloud computing, AI, cybersecurity, data analytics, financial literacy, business management, and vocational training.
The report follows USABC’s recent commitment to the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) during the 2024 Philippines Business Mission held on May 20-24, to provide information on initiatives being undertaken by its members that respond to the government's call for enhanced training, re-skilling, and upskilling to boost the country's competitiveness in the new economy. The report also aligns with Priority 20 of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which emphasizes the importance of industry involvement and investment in upskilling programs.
USABC member companies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Citigroup Business Process Solutions Ltd (Citi), Coca-Cola, Collins Aerospace, Ford Motor Company, Google, IBM, Illumina, Inc., LegacyEV, Marriott, Mastercard, TE Connectivity, UltraPass, and Visa are spearheading these programs. Their collective efforts focus on enhancing technical, digital, and professional skills across various sectors in the Philippines. The target demographics for these initiatives are diverse, including unemployed or underemployed individuals, students, educators, public school teachers, mid-career shifters, indigenous groups, youth, women, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“These upskilling initiatives represent our member companies' commitment to fostering a resilient and future-ready workforce in the Philippines. We believe these efforts will significantly contribute to the country's economic growth and competitiveness,” said Ambassador Brian McFeeters (ret.), Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director of the US-ASEAN Business Council and Co-Lead of the May 2024 Business Mission in Manila.
“These training programs are a testament to the collaborative spirit between the private sector and our government. They not only address current skill gaps but also equip our people with the capabilities to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy,” said Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, Frederick D. Go.
Member companies' upskilling opportunities were recognized as part of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Upskilling Initiative of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Since its establishment in September 2022, the Initiative has delivered over 10.9 million upskilling opportunities, mainly for women and girls, to promote sustainable economic growth and support the IPEF goals. For more information, read here: https://press.usasean.org/usabc-welcomes-ipef-ministerial-outcomes-advancing-upskilling-supply-chains-clean-economy-while-calling-for-significant-progress-under-trade