Upon instruction of Secretary Benitez, TESDA Nueva Ecija Provincial Director Alvin L. Yturralde visited the home of Mrs. Celia Veloso, the mother of Mary Jane, in Brgy. Burol, General Natividad town, on November 26, 2024, and presented the Certificates to Mary Jane’s two sons, which entitles them to free training in any TESDA-recognized training center.
Four more Certificates were given to Mary Jane’s siblings and cousins.
“Special priority ng TESDA ang mga distressed OFWs tulad ni Mary Jane Veloso,” Secretary Benitez said, highlighting that one of his Eight-Point Agenda is to expand access to technical-vocational training for vulnerable groups.
“We are closely collaborating with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to provide skills training for distressed and repatriated OFWs and their families, so they have other options for employment and livelihood,” Secretary Benitez added.
TESDA and the DMW signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last October 15 for provision of training and competency assessment for OFWs. Even prior to the signing of the MOA, TESDA has been bringing assessors abroad to serve OFWs. Since 2014, TESDA has assessed close to 7,745 OFWs in 9 foreign sites. In 2024, as of October 31, TESDA has assessed 1,769 OFWs in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai, Singapore and Malaysia.
Early this week, DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac also visited the Veloso family and provided welfare assistance.
Mary Jane Veloso has been detained in Indonesia for 14 years now but will soon be transferred to custody of Philippine authorities, following an agreement between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Indonesian government. (PR)
