The Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and the PCCI Human Resources Development Foundation will jointly develop and implement the Pre-Employment Enterprise-Based Training (PET) Program in Agriculture Qualifications starting on January 25, 2021.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar, PCCI President Benedicto Yujuico, and PCCI Human Resources Development Foundation President Alberto Fenix, Jr. signed the Memorandum of Agreement to initiate the industry-led training and competency assessment and certification program.

The PET Program aims to promote and increase employment in agriculture and agri-business and contribute to the industrialization of agriculture, which is one of the DA’s eight paradigms to level up the sector.

“These exposures in terms of training like what we are planning will really enhance the capacity building of potential men and women who will join the core of people who would like to show their leadership and management skills,” Secretary Dar said stressing the need to also focus on the value chain system in agriculture.

He added that more individuals should be trained on-farm management, farm-tourism management, agri-business management, production-market linkages, and other related subjects.

The DA, through the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), will work with the PCCI for the identification and selection of qualification/s in agriculture where jobs are available and where PET program should be conducted, organization of sectoral skills councils, and production of program manuals. They will also provide post-training support to link the graduates to their respective networks. (DA Communications Group)