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The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Nestlé Philippines, Inc. has renewed their partnership to upskill and reskill trainers and coffee farmers in the country.
Last September 18, TESDA Secretary Suharto T. Mangudadatu and Nestlé Philippines, Inc. Chairperson Kais Marzouki signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at the TESDA Central Office in Taguig City.
The partnership aims to boost workers’ and trainers’ participation in human capital development to create a pool of qualified, globally competitive, and job-ready workforce needed in the coffee subsector.
Specifically, it intends to train farmers in coffee production, develop a pool of trainers and assessors, promote entrepreneurship, and enhance the competency standards on coffee production and other related programs in the coffee sub-sector.
In his message, Secretary Mangudadatu emphasized that the TESDA-Nestlé collaboration will maintain the quality improvement of the country’s coffee products, and teach the farmers the best practices in planting, harvesting, and processing coffee to meet international quality standards.
“Continuing this partnership with Nestlé will contribute to strengthening the Philippines’ position in the global coffee market. with improved quality and sustainability practices, the Philippine coffee industry can become more competitive on the international stage, attracting coffee enthusiasts and buyers from around the world,” the Secretary said.
It can be recalled that in May 2021, TESDA and Nestlé signed an agreement to help coffee farmers, specifically in Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon, to increase their yields and to have a more sustainable livelihood.
Initially, coffee farmers in Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat were trained on Coffee Production Level I but with this renewal of the partnership, coffee farmers in the Davao Region will be trained.
Likewise, the duration of the said partnership is extended to five years.
According to data, a total of 536 coffee farmers in Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat were trained under the TESDA-Nestlé partnership on Coffee Production Level II. The Coffee Production Level I training runs for at least 176 hours or 22 days.
Aside from Coffee Production Level II, TESDA also offers Coffee Nursery Operation Level I training which runs for at least 270 hours or 34 days.
Also present during the MOA signing were TESDA Deputy Directors General Aniceto D. Bertiz III and Vidal Villanueva III, and Nestlé Philippines, Inc. Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs Jose Uy III. (✓)