Clark to host regional employment, education congress

CLARK FREEPORT — This Freeport will be the venue for this year’s Regional Employment and Education Congress to be held on September 9 at the Mimosa Convention Center here.

Subic Clark Alliance for Development Council (SCADC) Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan told Sun.Star that the Regional Employment and Education Congress is a regional gathering of industry sectors, the academic sector and relevant government agencies to collectively come up with strategies to bridge the prevailing job mismatch which has caused continued unemployment and underemployment.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

“Mismatch is a situation which occurs when the available talent or manpower pool is insufficient or under-qualified to fill the existing manpower needs of the industry. Mismatch may be caused by under-education or miseducation. Thus there is a need to constantly match educational and training curriculum to actual needs of the industry through coordination between the demand and supply side of employment,” Pamintuan said.

The event is on its 4th year and for the past three years it was held in Subic Bay Freeport. The event will be hosted by Clark Development Corporation’s Industrial Relations Unit in coordination with Clark Investors and Locators Association (Cila), Clark International Airport Corporation, Subic Bay Metropolitan Association, Subic Clark Alliance for Development Council, Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and other government agencies.

The congress aims to gather all the stakeholders to come up with strategies to bridge the prevailing job mismatch.

According to Cila Executive Director Justice Dalida, mismatches could only be addressed by continuous adjustments of the supply side to the needs of the demand side, wherein the educational and training system should be updated through coordination with the industry players.

“On the other hand, companies should determine their actual needed skills and talents for the linkage to be successful. This congress will help companies determine such needs,” Dalida said.

The congress will also include plenary talks and a learning forum from the industry, academe and government on the prevailing employment and education environment and presentation of plans and programs to curb mismatching. (IOF)