Government agencies and private stakeholders expressed support for Sen. Bam Aquino’s measure to establish Trabaho Centers in Senior High Schools (SHS) all over the country as means to address unemployment and underemployment among youth.

 During the hearing of the Committee on Education, chaired by Sen. Bam Aquino, the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) all backed Senate Bill No. 170.

“Natutuwa naman tayo na full support ang DepEd, DOLE, TESDA. Kung pumasa po ito, magkakaroon ng job placement centers sa bawat senior high schools natin,” said Sen. Bam after the hearing on the Trabaho Center in Schools Act.

 If passed into law, Sen. Bam said it can help Senior High School (SHS) find employment that fits their skill set and the career path they have chosen.

 “Napakahalaga po iyon kasi iyong reporma ng K-12, nakasalalay po diyan iyong employability ng ating mga estudyante,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

With an estimated 50 percent of Senior High School students not going to college, Sen. Bam stressed the need to help them find employment after they graduate through Trabaho Centers.

“Maganda kung alam na agad ng estudyante kung ano ba ang job market sa lugar, ano ang opportunities na puwede nilang pasukin at kung ano ang skills na kailangan nilang makuha para qualified sila sa mga job opening sa lugar,” said Sen. Bam.

 The proposal is also aimed at addressing the prevalent jobs mismatch, which is being blamed as major cause of youth unemployment, which stands at 15.7 percent.

 “Kung wala po iyon, we will continue to have a jobs mismatch, we will continue to have roughly five percent unemployment, almost 20 percent underemployment at marami pa sa mga kababayan natin, mahihirapan on their day to day,” said Sen. Bam.

The Trabaho Center in Schools Act will help ensure that Senior High School graduates under the K to 12 program have the appropriate knowledge, values, and skills to address the needs of the job market

The Center will focus on three main things – career counseling services, employment facilitation and industry matching.

“Siguraduhin natin na hindi masasayang ang pagod ng ating mga guro, estudyante, at pati ng kanilang magulang. Pagtapos ng senior high school o ng kolehiyo ay dapat may angkop na trabahong naghihintay para sa mga graduates,” Sen. Bam said.