U.S. Invests P228-M for Out-of-School Filipino Youth Training, Employment

An additional PHP228 million or USD3.8 million will be invested by the United States government to provide free skills and work-based training to unemployed, out-of-school Filipino youth.

The investment will be implemented by YouthWorks PH, a private sector-driven employability partnership between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd).

The investment will extend the YouthWorks PH program until 2026.

U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Heather Variava announced the investment during YouthWorks PH’s first-ever Skills Partnerships Summit held in Taguig City on October 8, saying that the US is proud to invest in Filipino youth.

“The U.S. government is proud to invest in the Filipino youth. Together with PBEd, we are providing training opportunities that will lead them to employment so they can provide for themselves and contribute positively to society,” Variava said.

Moreover, PBEd Chairman Ramon R. Del Rosario Jr. said that the investment is for the country’s success.

“Investing in our youth is investing in our country’s success. Through YouthWorks PH, the youth—especially those who are not in education, employment or training—are empowered with the right skills needed for their employment,” Del Rosario Jr. said.

The USAID and PBEd partnership has so far yielded over 13,000 work-based training positions with industry partners and has employed 4,000 youth.

The partnership has been implemented initially in the Greater Manila Area, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, and General Santos.

The program has since expanded to Northern Cebu, Bohol, Agusan del Sur, South Cotabato, and Sarangani.

USAID and PBEd also welcomed new industry partners for employment during the event as the partners introduced McDonald’s Philippines, Amazon Web Services, Banco de Oro Unibank Inc., Proudcloud, and Launchgarage.

The partnership is seen to contribute nearly PHP54 million or USD915,000 worth of support to 5,600 unemployed, out-of-school youth in the country. (GFB)