TESDA offers to retrain OFWs back from HK after hostage crisis

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said on Wednesday it is prepared to provide retraining for overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong, who might be dismissed by employers following the bloody end of the hostage crisis in Manila on Monday. The agency issued the statement amid fears of a possible backlash against OFWs in the Chinese region, following widespread criticism that the hostage crisis was mishandled by the Philippine authorities and police forces on the ground. The 11-hour standoff in front of the Quirino grandstand of the sprawling Rizal Park ended in the death of eight Chinese nationals and their armed Filipino captor, a disgruntled ex-police officer whose main demand was for the government to reinstate him. “In case our overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong would be forced to go back home because of this sad incident, TESDA is ready, more than ready, to provide them the assistance in retraining they need," said TESDA director general Joel Villanueva. In a GMA News report, Philippine Consul General in Hong Kong Claro Cristobal confirmed that a domestic helper sought the Consulate’s help after she was allegedly dismissed by her employer in apparent rage at how the hostage-taking ended. Fears are now mounting that more Filipinos working in Hong Kong will similarly bear the brunt from their Chinese employers because of Monday’s incident. “The readiness is of course part of the agency’s thrust of working hard to attain our goal of providing the work force the appropriate and competent skills training and education so they will be outfitted for work," Villanueva added. He said TESDA is aiming to provide skills training and education to those from the mid-level workforce to equip them for work whether here or abroad. There are about 150,000 Filipino workers in Hong Kong.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV