More opportunities will open up for children under the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) centers and residential care facilities (CRCFs) as the agency has established a groundbreaking partnership with IBM Philippines.
The memorandum of agreement was signed by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and IBM PH President and Country General Manager Aileen Judan-Jiao at the Marillac Hills – National Training School for Girls (NTSG) in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, on Wednesday.
Under the Skills Build System, IBM will provide digital technology-based training to selected children from DSWD-managed CRCFs, starting with the NTSG, which caters to minor girls who are survivors of sexual abuse, human trafficking, or are children in conflict with the law.
Through free online short courses offered by IBM, the partnership aims to help build confidence, competence, and a brighter future for CRCF clients, particularly those approaching the legal age and preparing for independent living.
Gatchalian emphasized that this first-of-its-kind initiative is close to the heart of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who aims to bring renewed hope to Filipinos in need, particularly the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors. “Alam naman natin ngayon, everything almost involves technology. Ang gusto natin nakakasabay ‘yung mga bulnerableng mga kliyente natin. Dapat na bigyan natin ng sapat na armas at kaalaman para makasabay sila sa agos ng mundo (We all know that everything today almost involves technology. We want our vulnerable clients to keep in step. We need to provide them with the necessary tools and knowledge to keep up with the world),” Gatchalian stated.
The IBM SkillsBuild program offers over 1,000 courses in 20 languages covering topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, programming and coding, and many other technical disciplines, as well as workplace skills. This initiative is crucial in preparing children who are nearing legal age, as they will eventually leave the facilities and embark on their journey toward independent living.
Judan-Jiao noted that the certificates and micro-credentials earned through the training program will be recognized by prospective employers both locally and globally. “Makakakuha sila ng digital micro credentials, parang maliit na diploma… pwede mo ipakita sa Facebook o sa LinkedIn, or pag mag-aapply ka ng trabaho (They will earn digital micro credentials, like a small diploma that they can show on Facebook or LinkedIn, or when applying for a job),” she explained.
Alias “Ice,” one of the residents of Marillac Hills, expressed her excitement about the program, viewing a career in the tech industry as a viable option. “For me po kasi, yung question is willing po ba ako mag-work in technology? Sa tingin ko po, pwede, kasi marami ka nang pwedeng malaman, marami ka ring pwedeng taong matulungan (For me, the question is am I willing to work in technology? I think it’s a possibility because you don’t just learn a lot of things, you can also help a lot of people),” Ice shared.
The DSWD had previously partnered with Caritas Philippines Foundation Inc. to help the agency’s CRCF residents gain knowledge on values formation as part of a whole-of-nation approach to addressing the needs of vulnerable groups.