Ilocos norte: The World Caf© of Opportunities (WCO) is actively preparing and connecting skilled workers in the province with both local and overseas employment opportunities, thereby strengthening the workforce and expanding the pathways to global careers.
According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative, led by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), is scheduled for Wednesday at SM City Laoag. It will bring together jobseekers, technical-vocational graduates, employers, training institutions, and government agencies, providing a one-stop platform for employment, skills upgrading, competency assessment, and other career support services.
"We are inviting all jobseekers in the province to take advantage of the World Cafe of Opportunities on Aug. 26 with 20 employers, including those from the National Capital Region, confirming their participation," Marinel Marcos, TESDA Specialist, stated in an interview on Tuesday. The initiative is particularly valuable for Ilocos Norte's skilled workers seeking opportunities both locally and internationally.
The WCO links qualified workers with overseas employers and manpower agencies, offering participants a broader venue to explore career opportunities while learning about employment requirements and available support services. Previous WCO activities in the province have demonstrated a strong demand for such opportunities. In 2025, nearly a thousand applicants participated in a WCO in Laoag, where 19 local and overseas employers offered at least 500 job vacancies.
The program complements TESDA's broader mandate of ensuring that technical-vocational training leads to meaningful employment. Its employment-linkaging efforts are designed to help technical and vocational education and training (TVET) graduates translate their skills into wage employment, self-employment, or opportunities in the global labor market. For Ilocos Norte, the WCO acts as a bridge between skills and opportunity, helping local talent find its place not only in the provincial economy but also in workplaces beyond the country's borders.
"Thanks to the many opportunities being offered by TESDA to level up my skills, I feel more confident now with my added skills in early childhood education," Marilou Cristobal, a certified Early Childhood Care and Development worker in San Nicolas town, expressed. Along with other child development workers in the province who recently obtained their National Certificate III with TESDA, Cristobal stated that all their sacrifices have paid off with better career opportunities, including a chance to secure permanent employment.
"Big thanks to our President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for responding to the needs of workers like us in early childhood education. This upscaling program of TESDA is vital to our success," Leila Anacleto, another child development worker from this city, remarked.
