In a bid to address chronic labor shortages in the Philippine construction sector, Cebu-based contractors are rolling out mobile training centers to bring technical education directly to rural communities, aiming to upskill youth and match them with in-demand jobs.
The initiative, launched during Philconstruct Visayas 2025, is a joint effort by local contractors, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and business groups including the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
Modular, fully equipped training units will be deployed to underserved municipalities, providing month-long courses in trades such as masonry, plumbing, welding, painting, and electrical installation. The curriculum will follow TESDA standards and be delivered by certified trainers.
“This is about access and opportunity,” said Engr. Rizalito Casinilio, Chairman of the CEO Forum. “We’re bringing the classroom to the barangay, not the other way around.”
The pilot program aims to tackle a persistent mismatch in the labor market—unemployed youth in rural areas and a growing demand for skilled workers among contractors in the region.
“There is a deep imbalance in the labor market,” said Engr. Bernard Vonn Sia, Chairman of Philconstruct Visayas 2025. “Companies are hiring but can’t find qualified workers. This program is meant to close that gap.”
Deployment of the mobile centers is expected by late 2025, with priority given to towns suffering from high youth unemployment and limited access to vocational training. The initiative is backed by over 150 member firms of the Cebu Contractors Association and nearly 1,000 businesses under the Chamber, providing a built-in employment pipeline for successful trainees.
As infrastructure spending ramps up across the Philippines, officials see the program as a scalable model for inclusive economic development—one that may soon extend beyond Cebu’s borders.
Business News Asia