THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be rolling out Google Career Certificates (GCC) through 1,300 Negosyo Centers nationwide to help upskill owners of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“Whether you are a micro, small, and medium enterprise, an owner or employee, or any individual who seeks a more significant job opportunity, today’s success requires 21st-century skills,” Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said in a statement on the department’s partnership with Google Philippines on Tuesday.
Google Philippines had already distributed over 40,000 GCC scholarship programs in the country for jobseekers, MSME employees, and entrepreneurs, among others.
This year, DTI and Google Philippines aim for more through DTI’s virtual campuses in 1,300 DTI Negosyo Centers located in the country’s 16 provincial regions.
“We already built a strong partnership with Google, and we are pleased that through our Negosyo Centers nationwide, we can leverage these online courses to reach more stakeholders across the country,” Mr. Pascual said.
The DTI said the partnership with Google Philippines was announced during the United States Trade and Investment Mission last week.
Through the partnership, DTI will offer the use of its Negosyo Centers to support the learners in completing the course and will nominate qualified recipients and distribute GCCs through Coursera, an open online course provider.
The DTI said it will be prioritizing MSME owners looking to digitalize their businesses and people from marginalized and underrepresented sectors such as women, out-of-school youth, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens, among others.
“We have invested actively in the country’s digital development. This includes digital skills training and digital infrastructure improvements,” said Sapna Chadna, vice president for Google Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier.
He said that the company’s investment has helped boost the Philippine gross domestic product by $14 billion and created 93,000 jobs.
“These outcomes motivate us to further deepen our collaboration with the Philippines and our efforts as a partner in building a robust digital economy,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile
